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The Steve Fund Statement on the State of Mental Health in America
The Steve Fund is observing Mental Health Month by reviewing national reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of youth of color and recommended actions.
The CDC Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) found elevated levels of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts among high school students during the pandemic. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens and female teens reported higher levels of poor mental health, emotional abuse, and suicide attempts. Students of color were more likely than whites to feel they had been treated badly at school because of their race or ethnicity and those who experienced racism at school were more likely to have poor mental health and less likely to feel connected to people at school. Students of color were also less likely to receive mental health care via telemedicine underscoring unmet need.
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, Protecting Youth Mental Health, highlighted risk factors for diminished mental health, especially for young people of color, including urban living; history of trauma; financial, food, and housing insecurity; losing a family member or caregiver to COVID-19; and isolation and disruption in education with limited internet access. The Advisory outlines recommendations for actions by educators, health care professionals, media organizations, community organizations, employers, parents, youth, and others.
President Biden’s broad mental health strategy aims to strengthen the mental health system in ways that will benefit young people of color. The strategy includes efforts to increase the supply and diversity of mental health professionals and community health workers, improve crisis response through a new nationwide “988” crisis line; and expand access to mental health care via telehealth and mental health support in schools and colleges.
To address the challenges and recommendations outlined in these reports, The Steve Fund will continue to work with its Community of Action to expand mental health resources to young people of color and the adults who support them in schools, colleges, and the workplace. We are continuing programs such as our Equity in Mental Health on Campus initiative and taking on new initiatives, such as encouraging medical students of color to pursue psychiatry, helping families decrease stigma and increase mental health care for their youth of color, and offering grief and loss workshops for teens.
This May, and every day, the Steve Fund is determined to champion for teens and young adults of color, a bright and healthy future.
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“In joining The Steve Fund, I knew I would connect with a much larger community and mission that aligned with my profound desires to protect the bodies and minds of [others].”
Sofia Marin, Vernon Hills High School
TSF Youth Advisory Board Member
Read her story below
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Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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May Spotlight: Dr. Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S.
This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, The Steve Fund is proud to spotlight one of our very own Mental Health Experts, Dr. Hendry Ton, M.D., M.S. Dr. Ton is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at The University of California Davis. His areas of interests include diversity and inclusion, professionalism, cultural psychiatry, humanistic psychology, medical student education, and faculty development.
He currently serves as the director of education at the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities. While serving as education director there, he authored a training program to teach health care leaders how to create culturally and linguistically appropriate system of care at academic, county, and state health organizations. Dr. Ton is also the founding medical director of the Transcultural Wellness Center of Asian Pacific Community Counseling, a community clinic that specializes in serving the mental health needs of Sacramento’s diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Dr. Ton presents nationally on topics such as anti-racism, combatting implicit bias, culturally appropriate care, diversity, equity, and inclusion, health professions education, and system change. In 2021, Dr. Ton presented on "Addressing Anti-AAPI Bias: Allyship Strategies" as a part of The Steve Fund's Anti-Asian Hate and the Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses event. The Steve Fund thanks Dr. Ton for his valuable contributions to the mental health arena and his devotion to serving the mental health needs of the community!
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Addressing Asian American/Pacific Islander College Students' Mental Health Needs: Expert Recommendations.
The Steve Fund and the National Center for Institutional Diversity formed a committee of mental health experts to develop recommendations for higher education institutions to support the mental health and well-being of AAPI students.
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The Steve Fund Welcomes:
Alyssa Aloyo
Please join us in welcoming Alyssa Aloyo to The Steve Fund team. She works on the Equity in Mental Health on Campus initiative and provides support for seminars and workshops. Alyssa is an experienced higher education professional and EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) practitioner.
Prior to joining The Steve Fund, Alyssa worked in the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Vanderbilt University as a program manager. She contributed to the creation and development of Identity Initiatives for institutionally marginalized community members, strategic planning, program development, and relationship building. While at Vanderbilt, Alyssa earned her Master’s of Education in Learning, Diversity, and Urban Studies from Peabody College and focused her studies on promoting equity and justice in higher education contexts.
Before joining Vanderbilt’s community, Alyssa was on the College for Leadership and Public Service team at Lipscomb University, where she also earned her Master’s of Arts in Conflict Management. Alyssa uses her skill set and is dedicated toward actively pursuing racial equity and creating anti-oppressive spaces in education.
Welcome, Alyssa!
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Youth Advisory Board Spotlight:
Sofia Marin
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The Steve Fund’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was created to engage high school and college students of color from across the nation in discussion about ongoing issues and needs pertinent to the mental health and emotional well-being of their peers. Sofia Marin (Vernon Hills High school, 2023), joined YAB in 2021 and shared about the value of her YAB experience:
Why were you interested in the YAB?
"In joining The Steve Fund, I knew I would connect with a much larger community and mission that aligned with my profound desires to protect the bodies and minds of people who would break otherwise. It was my mission, and a societal contribution."
What's one thing you've learned from being on the YAB?
"I learned that you can’t choose privilege, but use it as leverage to help redefine the current nature of the lingering societal problems. Mental health can’t be looked at individually, but must be identified and assessed as a problem that relates to the competitive arena on social media, the stigmatization of mental health and the economic and educational resources available."
What's your favorite part of being a part of the YAB?
"I admire the shared sense of community and energy of our diverse perspectives. They expand my sense of self and they globalize my understanding...I’ve been able to acquire a bigger awareness on race as a perception and experience and mental health as a product of access, food and neighborhood."
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sofia!
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The Steve Fund TikTok Contest
The Steve Fund held a TikTok contest as a part of our Well-Being in Color Program. Middle School and High School students were invited to participate in the contest by submitting an original TikTok on mental health, and discussing and seeking help. All students who participated in the contest received a prize of $300 and three High Schools were awarded $1,000. Search #MymentalhealthIC on TikTok to view those who competed!
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SpeakOnIt! Podcast
Season 2: Secrets of Well-being
Made by students for students, The Steve Fund’s SpeakOnIt! Podcast brings students and professionals together to discuss topics related to mental health and the challenges that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color may face during their academic and professional careers.
This season focuses on how well-being is valuable in its own right, and not just as an asset to advance one’s education or career. Drawing inspiration from the Six Dimensions of Wellness instated by the National Wellness Institute, the podcast explores Occupational, Emotional, Physical, Social, Intellectual and Spiritual Health.
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Morgan Stanley
As anti-Asian hate crimes continue to surge in the US, The Steve Fund is partnered with Morgan Stanley to deliver "Lessons from AAPI History to Propel Healthy Futures" to their employees, a strengths-based session that offers lessons and concepts drawn from AAPI history to promote mental health among young people of color.
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Sony
Two years after the murder of George Floyd, the Steve Fund is partnering with Sony to launch "Restoring Hope in the Face of Adversity" to discuss the antidotes of widespread feelings of burnout and moral injury rooted in the speed of change and ongoing backlash against social justice efforts. Bringing in a Steve Fund mental health expert, this session asks, "How can people draw upon hope in the face of adversity?" and offers practical strategies and techniques for moving through adversity.
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The Steve Fund Interviews:
Zazie Beetz
Tune in to The Steve Fund's Instagram Live on Monday, May 9th at 4PM ET as we interview German-American actress, Zazie Beetz. Zazie is well known for her role as Vanessa on Atlanta (2016), as well as for starring in Deadpool 2 (2018), Joker (2019), and Nine Days (2020). In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we will discuss the importance of mental health, and how Zazie has cared for her mental health and emotional well-being while balancing her work!
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Spring Black Young Women Wellness Series
The Steve Fund is delighted to invite mental health practitioners and educators who support and serve Black young women and girls to our Spring Black Young Women Wellness Series. Please see details for our upcoming sessions below:
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Wednesday, May 18th, 1:00-2:30PM ET
In this session, we will discuss the concept of “Black Joy” and what it means for Black young women and girls to thrive, not just survive, in our current society. This session will be an interactive and creative engagement session where participants will reimagine and reflect on their survival and thrival practices.
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Reclaiming and liberating our bodies: Supporting healthy body image and self-esteem for Black young women and girls
Wednesday, May 25th, 1:00-2:30 PM ET
In this session, we will engage in a community conversation around physical wellness and supporting Black young women and girls by integrating positive and healthy body image skills and practices that support and uplift their mental health and wellness.
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Celebrating Black young women and girls as bosses and creatives: A community conversation on entrepreneurship and wellness
Wednesday, June 15, 1:00-2:30 PM ET
Black young women and girls are thriving as bosses and creatives within entrepreneurship! In this session, participants and community members will learn and reflect on the growing career field of entrepreneurship for Black young women and girls. This session will highlight and educate community members on the benefits of entrepreneurship for Black young women and girls and how to support and uplift their creative ventures. Celebrate Juneteenth with The Steve Fund by attending this session!
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May Community Conversation:
Families Healing Together
Thursday, May 19th, 7:30-8:15 PM ET
Healing journeys are rarely done alone. It’s easy to put ourselves last when supporting others, especially when someone is going through hard times, but prioritizing ourselves helps us to care for our families even better. As a part of MTV's Mental Health Action Day, join the Steve Fund and take a moment to unwind, celebrate community and connectivity, and experience collective healing.
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Mental Health in Communities of Color Panel
Our very own Tia Dole, Ph.D. (Executive Director) will be on the Mental Health in Communities of Color panel at the 2022 SoundMinds Music Festival for Mental Health in New York City on May 19th, 2022 at 5:30PM ET.
Amid a new decade of civil unrest, Communities of Color face some of the most challenging and historically rooted mental health struggles. This panel will explore how we as a community can ensure that communities of color not only have access to mental health support, but are also prepared to advocate for their own unique experiences tied to mental health. The panel will present multiple viewpoints representing the mental health experiences of this community, as well as explore pathways and resources toward healing and support.
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Ken Burns Presents
Hiding In Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness
A Film by Erik Ewers & Christopher Loren Ewers
Premiering on PBS on June 27 & 28 at 9/8c
#PlainSightPBS #WellBeings
This two-part, four-hour film is part of Well Beings, a national campaign from public media to demystify and destigmatize our physical and mental health through storytelling. HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: YOUTH MENTAL ILLNESS features first-person accounts from more than 20 young people, ranging in age from 11 to 27, who live with mental health conditions, as well as parents, teachers, friends, healthcare providers in their lives, and independent mental health experts.
The film presents an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges, from seemingly insurmountable obstacles to stories of hope and resilience. Through the experiences of these young people, the film confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness, and silence, and, in doing so, help advance a shift in the public perception of mental health issues today.
A preview of the film, with a special message from executive producer Ken Burns, is available here.
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Applications OPEN!
Equity in Mental Health on Campus
The Steve Fund's application for the fall cohort of colleges and universities who would like to participate in The Equity in Mental Health on Campus initiative is now open!
The goal of the Equity in Mental Health on Campus Initiative (EMHC) is to guide and support a cohort of schools through a transformative process that will make the mental health of students of color a priority for their campus community. Through the EMHC initiative, institutions work towards transforming their campus’ racial climate, policies, programs, and services to address and support the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color.
“Because of TSF we have more weight as to what we are trying to do! It takes patience and persistence. And it has energized me!”
- EMHC participant
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Are you a young person of color? Feeling down, stressed or overwhelmed? Text STEVE to 741741 and a live, trained Crisis Counselor will respond to you quickly to provide support. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
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