FYP Research

In an effort to gain perspective on other groups doing similar things and improve ourselves, we perform case studies on various organizations and Instagram accounts. If you'd like to see a case study on a particular organization/Instagram account let us know. If you'd like to participate in the process, we have templates available for each, and as long as you have an account, anyone can edit the pages for greater clarification. If you have comments on the process, reach out! We are always working on ourselves and our organization.

Changemaker Xchange

Lookup.live

Provide funds for youth change-makers who is providing solution to youth mental health crisis

youth change-makers

Provide funds and support, through these programs  

  1. Grants for Innovators,  

  2. Podcast to Amplify, 

    1. Spotify Podcast 

  3. Events, 

  4. Give Youth a Platform 

  1. Timely

    1. Timely is a skill-sharing platform that connects users with others locally based on mutual skills, hobbies, or activities and helps coordinate a time/place to do them together.

    2. https://lookup.live/timely 

  2. Write it Down

    1. Communicating the power of journaling to be an agent of self comprehension and healing.

    2. https://lookup.live/writeitdown 

  3. Ctrl + Z: The Climate Mental Health Podcast 

    1. Winners of the exposure labs storytelling grant 

    2. Youth are carrying the burden of the world’s future and being asked to fix it. Ctrl+Z: The Mental Health podcast takes a deep dive into the intersecting issues that youth are grappling with and centers stories about youth resilience in the face of the climate crisis.

    3. https://lookup.live/ctrlzpodcast 

  4. GoYogi

    1. We aim to increase access to proactive, mindfulness-based mental health education. Utilizing technology, GoYogi works to integrate custom stress management techniques, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices directly into the school’s culture and curriculum.

    2. https://lookup.live/goyogi 

  5. Growing Digital with Jules Terpak

    1. Winners of the exposure labs storytelling grant 

    2. Growing Digital with Jules Terpak is a media platform that helps people understand how human-computer interaction is evolving. 

  6. Highlight Reel 

    1. Who's behind the highlight reel? Highlight Reel is an exhibit exploring how the perfected versions of ourselves that we post on social media are only a fraction of the picture.

    2. https://lookup.live/highlightreel 

  7. Impact Playground 

    1. Winners of the exposure labs storytelling grant 

    2. Impact Playground aims to develop personalized and comprehensive social-justice education that empowers and equips youth to pursue diverse pathways to social impact.

    3. https://lookup.live/impactplayground 

  8. Know The System 

    1. We are a collective of activists that utilize the power of storytelling to shift the narrative on mental health and advance real solutions through policy, culture, and communication.

    2. https://lookup.live/knowthesystem 

  9. Others 


https://www.instagram.com/lookup_live/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lookup-live/

Force Of Nature

Organization Name: Force Of Nature

Organization Country: UK, with a student network spanning 50+ countries 

They “help their community channel climate anxiety into agency; develop the skills to make a difference; and inspire change at the systemic level.”

Their audience is youth, but they also work on “intergenerational exchange,” connecting youth with (old people) policymakers. “This means bringing together the energy of youth, with the knowledge of experience.”

3 pronged approach: 


Climate Cafes, youth can host cafes to discuss climate change related issues. They have a micro grant program for people who want to host but can’t afford to.

#ClimateConfessions: basically like halfthestory but the videos and posts are focused around climate change anxiety


Business-like, very structured within the organization. Everyone has specific roles and works underneath someone(s) else. Not sure if they’re a nonprofit, but they are always looking to work with nonprofits. They were founded in 2019 and seem to have come a long way since then.

Multiple Fortune 500 companies, including P&G, Pepsico, and Unilever, as well as government funding and donations.

They, like many other organizations that have been analyzed, have a “2022 impact report” detailing what they did in 2022 to further their mission. Website is weird and sometimes hard to navigate.

GenZ Talks

Organization Country: U.S. 

Giving the youth voice a seat at the table, through Live Events, Reverse Mentoring and Content Production.

Youth entrepreneur and corporation 

To collaborate with organisations to deliver the most fun, engaging and impactful events that bring together Gen Z talent and companies in a 50/50. split audience.

Connect 10,000 entrepreneurially minded Gen Zs to forward thinking companies, to increase innovation, skills and intrapreneurship in the workplace.

Help SME and corporate companies better engage and retain the younger generation and become a youth friendly employer.

Conference, talks, 

There is no information on the youth start ups 

Real founders not on website 

Company sponsorship 

We can learn from their website structure 

The Empathy Alliance

Organization Country: United States

Make education safer and more inclusive for LGBTQ+ youth

Educators, students, LGBTQ+ youth

The founder partners with various organizations (like the white house) to spread awareness, and the founder often does speeches/talk shows/interviews to further spread awareness, and ensure that nobody else has to go through what he did. Their three approaches are: spreading awareness, educating educators, and transforming communities.

Speaking at events geared towards educators and youth-serving professionals.

Seems like one leader (Sameer Jha) and a host of unnamed donors and supporters. The group partners with many other organizations to spread the message of LBGTQ+ acceptance and identity.

Likely CA based donations, and certainly federal grants.

Seems like the website hasn’t been updated since 2022. Much of this work seems awareness focused, and they mention that they have “reached over 1 million people” through their work. It’s hard to measure the success of this organization, but they’re doing something right if Biden invited Sameer to the White House to “advise on the needs of trans youth.”

The Climate Initiative

Organization Country: United States

Provide education and tools for engagement towards the end of transitioning regular communities to climate resilient communities. Education and empowerment initiatives are community based.

“Young climate champions” – People who care about the planet and its people, and are young.

They educate and engage communities with their programs/resources

There are nine programs:

Staff made up mostly of youth, with a few adults (leaders, maybe)

Advisory Board made up of middle aged to old people

Board of directors that mostly dinosaurs with a smattering of younger people


Likely the dinosaurs on the board of directors, with some donations

They partner with a lot of corporations, have a “join the movement” link in the footer of every page, and have about 45 people within the organization, between the three different levels of the organizational structure.


Their main deliverable:  “TCI aims to educate, empower and activate 1 million youth to reach this goal by 2025.”



All of these questions were easily answered in about 10 minutes of going through their page. We need to be similar.

The Steve Fund

Support the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color by promoting programs and strategies

Our Goals

Our goals are: A robust national dialogue; adoption of effective programs by colleges and universities; greater knowledge and utilization of campus mental health services; and the increased competency of families and mental health organizations serving our demographic.

Young people of color

The Fund holds an annual conference series, Young, Gifted & @Risk, and offers a Knowledge Center with curated expert information. With multicultural mental health experts it delivers on-campus and on-site programs and services for colleges and non-profits, and through tech partnerships it provides direct services to young people of color.

1. Building knowledge and thought leadership

2. Creating programs and strategic partnerships

3. Promoting awareness and dialogue

4. Producing immediate impact for students through tech innovations

Non-Violent Communication

From Youth Advocacy to Everyday Life

Core Philosophy

At FYP, we believe all people are fundamentally kind and that compassion is the bridge that helps us overcome any differences in interests, beliefs, identities, and groups. Non-violent communication is not just a technique but a fundamental pathway to transform how we relate to ourselves, to each other, and to our world.

The Path of Communication

Level 1: Self to Self

Level 2: Within Youth Movements

Level 3: In Advocacy Work

Level 4: In Everyday Life

Core Framework

1. Observation Without Judgment

The art of seeing clearly

In Youth Advocacy:

"I notice our last three events had lower youth turnout than expected."
Instead of: "Our events are failing because no one cares."

In Social Movements:

"The policy draft doesn't include specific youth mental health provisions."
Instead of: "They're ignoring youth voices again."

In Daily Life:

"You've missed our last two planned meetups without message."
Instead of: "You're such an unreliable friend."

2. Feelings Without Attribution

The practice of honest expression

In Youth Advocacy:

"I feel worried about our community engagement goals."
Instead of: "You're not doing enough outreach."

In Social Movements:

"I feel frustrated when youth voices are missing from these discussions."
Instead of: "Adults never listen to young people."

In Daily Life:

"I feel lonely when we don't connect regularly."
Instead of: "You never make time for me."

3. Needs Without Demands

The foundation of connection

In Youth Advocacy:

"I need clarity about our project timeline to coordinate effectively."
Instead of: "You need to be more organized."

In Social Movements:

"We need transparent processes to ensure youth participation."
Instead of: "Your system is broken and exclusionary."

In Daily Life:

"I need occasional quiet time to recharge."
Instead of: "You're too demanding of my time."

4. Requests Without Commands

The bridge to action

In Youth Advocacy:

"Would you be willing to co-create an outreach strategy with me?"
Instead of: "Start doing more outreach."

In Social Movements:

"Could we establish regular youth feedback sessions?"
Instead of: "You must include youth in your process."

In Daily Life:

"Would you be open to setting up a weekly check-in?"
Instead of: "Text me more often."

Practical Applications Across Contexts

In Youth Organizations

1. Internal Communication
   - Clear role expectations
   - Regular feedback loops
   - Supportive accountability

2. Community Building
   - Inclusive language
   - Cultural sensitivity
   - Space for all voices

3. Conflict Resolution
   - Focus on shared goals
   - Acknowledge all perspectives
   - Seek collaborative solutions

In Advocacy Work

1. Stakeholder Engagement
   - Respect for experience
   - Clear articulation of needs
   - Collaborative approach

2. Policy Discussions
   - Data-driven observations
   - Impact-focused language
   - Actionable proposals

3. Coalition Building
   - Shared values emphasis
   - Bridge-building language
   - Unity in diversity

In Personal Life

1. Family Relationships
   - Emotional honesty
   - Boundary respect
   - Growth mindset

2. Friendships
   - Active listening
   - Authentic expression
   - Mutual support

3. Professional Settings
   - Clear communication
   - Constructive feedback
   - Solution focus

Common Challenges and Responses

1. Power Dynamics

Challenge: Communicating with authority figures or institutions
Response: Focus on shared goals and mutual benefits while maintaining authenticity

2. Emotional Intensity

Challenge: Managing strong feelings during important discussions
Response: Practice pause and reflection, use feeling words precisely

3. Cultural Differences

Challenge: Navigating diverse communication styles
Response: Lead with curiosity and cultural humility

Remember

Implementation Steps

For Beginners

  1. Start with self-observation
  2. Practice one component at a time
  3. Begin in low-stakes situations
  4. Seek feedback from trusted friends

For Advocates

  1. Model in movement spaces
  2. Create supportive practice environments
  3. Integrate into organizational culture
  4. Build training capacity

For Daily Life

  1. Choose one relationship to practice
  2. Share your learning journey
  3. Celebrate small successes
  4. Build supportive habits

Transformation Process

Individual Practice
↓
Movement Integration
↓
Social Change
↓
Cultural Transformation

Core Commitments

  1. To Ourselves:

    • Regular self-reflection
    • Ongoing learning
    • Compassionate self-talk

  2. To Our Movements:

    • Authentic leadership
    • Inclusive practices
    • Sustainable activism

  3. To Our World:

    • Bridge-building
    • Peace-making
    • Community-strengthening

"Through compassionate communication, we don't just change conversations—we transform relationships, movements, and ultimately, our world."

United We Dream

Organization Country: United States

They are the largest immigrant youth-led network in the country, and they fight for the dignity and respect of all immigrants

Immigrant youth, people who are passionate about their cause, and policymakers.

They organize rallies, demonstrations, legal campaigns, and social media campaigns to stop people from getting deported and give them a future in the United States.

Undeniable! campaign, pushing for policymakers to write legislation that would:


Grassroots movement with millions of roots and a central leadership who holds the legal powerhouse

Regular people, donations

These guys are very effective and quite large. We should include immigration resources on the wiki.

We R Native

Organization Country: United States

We R Native is a resource page for native youth, by native youth. It’s literally us but specifically for native youth.

Native youth


They offer lots of online resources available to anyone, and do outreach via community projects, sending ambassadors to conferences, and inviting any native youth to contribute as much or as little as they like on the website. There are mental health resources, career resources, and more.


“Ask your relative,” and a few different programs/articles for LGBTQ native youth, a group which is doubly more likely to commit suicide than being part of either single group.



A central group that runs the website and provides “incentives” (money) to anybody who wants to be an ambassador for We R Native. Again, very similar to us.

“funds from the Indian Health Service and the Minority AIDS Initiative Fund, and by a GLS suicide prevention grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.”

What else stands out?

Website is kinda chunky, but overall the organization is REMARKABLY similar to what we want to do.

Youth Climate Lab

Provide youth with skills, financial support, and policy knowledge in order to aid in the fight against climate change.


Young stem people looking to help with climate change and create a climate-resilient future

Radical collaboration, providing youth with the 3 things they believe are necessary to creating just, climate-resilient futures: policy knowledge, financial support, and necessary skills.

https://www.youthclimatelab.org/impact

Two programs: Cohorts and Collectives

Cohorts: Four to eight-month fellowship-style programs for participants to build the skills, knowledge and relationships they need to become lifelong climate leaders.

Collectives: Large-scale, multi-partner initiatives focused on creating the enabling conditions, such as finance, connections, and knowledge, to scale youth-led climate action.

One executive, 6 managers. A board of directors who likely has significant influence on their actions, as well as a group of “associates” that are likely companies/scientists that they partner with. There seem to be no people older than 40 anywhere in their organizational structure.

Hard to say, likely some crowdfunding and the majority is a mix of government grants and private donations

They have an excellent “Impact” page, which shows everything that they’ve done in a way that inflates their sense of success to the viewer. It’s very flattering and well done/persuasive. They also have a blog page that is similar to our wiki page but not as cool.


This is present at the bottom of every page.

Overall, YCl is a great example of what we should try to emulate. They have three core approaches to their mission of teaching policy knowledge, skills, and providing financial support/knowledge. They involve the community as much as they can, and essentially do the same as us, break down barriers to human flourishing, but their flourishing is a future where the planet doesn’t hate us.

The Cybersmile Foundation

Organization Name:

The Cybersmile Foundation

Organization Country:

U.S. and U.K. 

 https://www.cybersmile.org 

What do they do?

digital wellbeing and tackling all forms of bullying and abuse online

image.png

image.png

Who’s their audience?

youth 

What are their approaches?

advocacy through influencers 

use testimonies to drive their donations 

What’s their current program/project?

companies can find them to make a one-off awareness campaign https://www.cybersmile.org/what-we-do/corporate 

STOP CYBERBULLYING DAY 2023

What’s their organizational structure?


ADVISORY PANEL
Our panel of world renowned experts ensure that we are always leading the way through innovation and expertise.

AMBASSADORS (famous people)
Our growing team of Cybersmile Ambassadors work together to promote our campaigns and initiatives to millions of people around the world.

PARTNERS
We work alongside some of the worlds leading brands to make the internet truly inclusive for users of all ages.

PATRONS
Our network of Patrons and Vice-Patrons play an integral part in the year-round activities of Cybersmile.

TESTIMONIALS
We love hearing from people that we have helped! See what people from all over the world are saying about the impact Cybersmile has had on their lives.

Who funds them? (can be hard to track down, make an educated guess)

Unknown

What else stands out?

Celebrity and influencer driven 

Championing Youth Minds

Organization Name:

Championing Youth Minds

Organization Country:

U.K. 

https://www.championingyouthminds.com 

What do they do?

We aim to provide a platform through which young people can help other young people care for their mental wellbeing. 

Through free online resources accessible to all schools, parents and youth, workshops and social media, we help our youth understand mental health and effective strategies that work best for them. 

Who’s their audience?

PRIMARY, SECONDARY,  Higher education, All other ages, experiences and backgrounds

What are their approaches?

 education 

What’s their current program/project?

podcast, workshop 

What’s their organizational structure?

image.png

Who funds them? (can be hard to track down, make an educated guess)

no idea 

What else stands out?

last Instagram post 23 weeks ago 

not 501 c 3 

Youth Mental Health Project

Organization Name: Youth Mental Health Project

Organization Country: United States 

1. EVENTS AND SUPPORT https://ymhproject.org/screenings-and-events/ 

2. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS 

3. FILM

NO LETTING GO
A compelling film about one family’s journey to understand and seek help for their son’s emotional instability and erratic behavior.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3438208/

4. THE PARENT SUPPORT NETWORK

https://ymhproject.org/parent-support-network/ 

parents 

advocacy 

none

Program Director, Interim Executive Director, Administrative Manager, Founder --> Board of Directors

https://ymhproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/YMHP-AnnualReport-FINAL_3.21.22.pdf

image.png

image.png

not active in 2023? last post in Instagram is 8 weeks ago https://www.instagram.com/ymhproject/?hl=en 

AmeriCorps

Organization Country: United States

Americorps connects both youth and older folks with opportunities around the US where they can contribute to local community growth and development. They spawned out of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), created during the Great Depression by FDR, in order to provide jobs for the jobless and build necessary infrastructure at the same time. Their listed goal is to “make service to others an indispensable part of the American experience.”

Their audience is all Americans, but especially youth.

They have 6 focuses: Disaster services, education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.

There are 10s of programs within each of their 6 approaches. Each program is locally focused, and Americorps connects them.

They are a government program that both directly connects with youth and with other, more local organizations. An example of this is Kupu, a program in Hawaii focused on environmental stewardship. Kupu has 6 month and one-year programs that are essentially paid internships, and Americorps provides the funding that pays the interns, and Kupu provides the direction. 

Government funding + private sector donations.

Americorps does much of what we aim to do, but for more than youth, and they largely only work with other organizations to provide them with people. The biggest difference is that Americorps is a government program, whereas we are not.


https://thewowfoundation.com/young-leaders-directory-2022

Instagram Page of @bymariandrew

Organization/Individual: Mari Andrew, Author of "AM I THERE YET" and "MY INNER SKY"

IG Handle: @bymariandrew

Followers: ~925k

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): Unknown, like counts hidden

How often they post slides/photos:

1-2 per month

How often they post reels:

N/A, no reels posted

What kind of content?

Personal photos and writings, each with a form of personal meditation attached

What ratio of content?

Roughly 1:1 ratio of Personal : Writing posts

Other notable features:

She has a newsletter, and seems to have such a large following by virtue of her writing, rather than her social media presence.

Instagram Page of @gemmacorrell

Organization/Individual: Gemma Correll, an artist who does comics on mental health (and pugs)

IG Handle: @gemmacorrell

Followers: 950k

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): 1-10%

How often they post slides/photos: Once per week

How often they post reels:

No reels posted since 2022.

What kind of content?

Almost all mental health comics, with very rare personal posts

What ratio of content?

No ratio needed, generally only one kind of content

Other notable features:

Lots of story highlights, as well as an Instagram guide. An Instagram guide for each region that we operate in would be a good addition to our page, with each guide containing local resources. One guide with resources that are available in most US locales would be a good place to start.

Color of Change

What do they do?/What are their primary activities?

What are opportunities for young people to participate in the organization/in the field?
    - if there are specific opportunities who is the point of contact?

Who’s their audience?
What are their approaches?
What’s their current program/project/work?
What’s their organizational structure?
Who funds them? (can be hard to track down, make an educated guess)
What else stands out?


Instagram Page of @brenebrown

Organization: “Unlocking Us” podcast and a few books, the page is the author’s personal page and showcases their various projects, as well as awareness for a few different social causes.

IG Handle: @brenebrown

Followers: 4.9 million

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): 1-5% (50k likes average per post)

How often they post slides/photos:

Once every few months, but no posts since February 2023 as of July 2023

How often they post reels:

Very rarely, no reels posted since April 2022

What kind of content?

Most of the content on this page promotes the author and their projects, with some story highlights. THe story highlights are announcements about upcoming projects, her daily life, her dog, and some touring that she did. 

What ratio of content?

No memes, all serious content with relatively low engagement. Every post is about one of her books or a new episode of her podcast dropping. 

Other notable features:

Despite the lack of recent stories and posts, this page is very populated and welcoming. Story highlights add a level of humanity to the account that her posts do not.

 

Instagram Page of @cocktailsandcapitalism

Organization: Cocktails and Capitalism (Podcast)

IG Handle: @cocktailsandcapitalism

Followers: 39k

Engagement: (% of followers liking average post): 2-20%

How often they post slides/photos:

Daily

How often they post reels: 

Daily

What kind of content?

What ratio of content?

Other notable features:

AN array of story highlights promoting podcast episodes, the STOP COP CITY movement, Palestine, and a bunch of other movements, as well as one that is strictly for the page owner's "private" life. 

Instagram page of @allira.potter

Organization: This page is for an individual. They're an author and model. 

IG Handle: @allira.potter

Followers: 49k

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): Unknown, like counts on posts have been removed.

How often they post slides/photos: 

2-3 times per week

How often they post reels:

3-4 times per month

What kind of content?

The content is mostly Allira's daily life, with a few plugs for sponsored products, as well as some mental health focused content, daily affirmations and such.

What ratio of content?

Ratio of personal : sponsored : mental health is roughly 3:1:3

Other notable features:

Not many highlights, but lots of daily stories are posted.

Managing a Nonprofit Organization by Thomas Wolf

Chapter 1 : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ICQGocT8pXgZVpL-wDjkgdBAs0qsLPyJn0xdegSXndI/edit?usp=sharing

Chapter 3: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JE6cKCvhcXhhQWVez2xoL9jsHLjzHUc99FAi-PsL8I4/edit?usp=sharing

 

Instagram Page of @dearmyanxiety

Organization/Individual: dearmyanxiety is a podcast run by Stefania Rossi, this page is largely focused on the podcast.

IG Handle: @dearmyanxiety

Followers: ~400k

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): 1-5%

How often they post slides/photos:

1-2 times per week

How often they post reels:

Roughly once per month

What kind of content?

Podcast plugs, personal posts, and mental health tips/strategies

What ratio of content?

The ratio of podcast : personal : MH strategies is around 1:1:6

Other notable features:

Many story highlights that started and ended at varying times, with a few that get new things added more regularly. There are a few scattered memes throughout the page, but most of the content is material that Stefania has created to help others with the mental health issues that they have had throughout their life.

Instagram Page of @makedaisychains

Organization/Individual: Hannah Daisy, a queer illustrator and occupational therapist from the UK

IG Handle: @makedaisychains

Followers:  ~155k

Engagement (% of followers liking average post): 1-10%

How often they post slides/photos:

3-4 times per week

How often they post reels:

1-2 times per week

What kind of content?

Mental health, disability, and LBGTQ awareness. Lots of cute cartoons about different social issues, especially surrounding LBGTQ youth. Some twitter screenshots, photos from their life.

What ratio of content?

Almost all comics with a different thing about every 8 posts.

Other notable features:

Lots of story highlights and seemingly daily posts to their story.

July 18 week Instagram Case Studies

Adele 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lLRJQd0zf0jejQybhGB54BYlwKD3U98seVO9cQEYQVY/edit?usp=sharing 

Connor 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14aKlclW2xFCzMf5QMh56atyqcqAU5XH3omCwJ0H4dmM/edit?usp=sharing 

Joanna 

THIS IS AN UPRISING By Mark and Paul Engler

This Is an Uprising

By Mark and Paul Engler

Core Thesis

The book argues that nonviolent movements can be systematically studied, strategically planned, and effectively executed - they're not just spontaneous eruptions but can follow predictable patterns of success.

Key Frameworks to Focus On

1. Structure vs. Momentum-Driven Organizing

2. The Civil Rights Movement's Hybrid Model

3. Four Roles of Social Movements

  1. The Reformer: Works within system
  2. The Rebel: Creates direct confrontation
  3. The Citizen: Supports change through mainstream channels
  4. The Change Agent: Organizes alternatives

Essential Concepts (Focus on These)

1. Strategic Nonviolence

2. Momentum-Driven Organizing

3. The Pillars of Support

4. Cycles of Movement

  1. Movement Emergence
    • Grievance identification
    • Early organizing
    • Building networks
  2. Movement Growth
    • Trigger events
    • Rapid mobilization
    • Peak moments
  3. Movement Maintenance
    • Institutionalization
    • Long-term organizing
    • Policy change

Chapters to Prioritize

Must Read Thoroughly

  1. Chapter 1: Introduction to strategic nonviolence
  2. Chapter 4: Movement cycles and momentum
  3. Chapter 7: Hybrid approaches
  4. Chapter 9: Future of movements

Skim These

Key Case Studies (Read Quickly)

  1. Serbian Student Movement
    • Youth-led
    • Strategic planning
    • Creative tactics
  2. Civil Rights Movement
    • Strategic escalation
    • Media strategy
    • Leadership development
  3. Marriage Equality
    • Long-term strategy
    • Cultural change
    • Institution building

Strategic Applications for FYP

1. Movement Building

2. Organization Development

3. Tactical Planning

Ten Essential Skills for Youth Well-being and Self-Actualization

A Research-Based Framework

1. Self-Compassion

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Studies:

"Self-compassion is strongly related to psychological well-being and provides resilience during challenging times" (Neff & McGehee, 2010)

2. Emotional Intelligence

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Finding:

"EI explains 58% of success in all types of jobs" (Goleman, 1998)

3. Boundary Setting & Non-Violent Communication

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Studies:

"Boundary setting skills significantly predict reduced anxiety and depression" (Swenson et al., 2019)

4. Growth Mindset & Resilience

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Finding:

"Growth mindset interventions show significant positive effects on academic achievement and mental health" (Yeager et al., 2019)

5. Mindful Self-Awareness

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Studies:

"Mindfulness practice significantly improves attention, emotional regulation, and stress response in youth" (Zenner et al., 2014)

6. Critical Thinking & Media Literacy

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Finding:

"Critical thinking skills significantly predict better mental health outcomes in digital natives" (Chen & Lee, 2013)

7. Authentic Self-Expression

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Studies:

"Authentic self-expression is strongly associated with psychological well-being and life satisfaction" (Wood et al., 2008)

8. Social Connection Skills

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Finding:

"Quality social connections are the strongest predictor of long-term happiness and well-being" (Harvard Grant Study, 2018)

9. Purpose Development

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Studies:

"Sense of purpose significantly predicts psychological well-being in youth" (Damon, 2008)

10. Digital Well-being

Core Components:

Research Base:

Key Finding:

"Digital well-being skills significantly predict better mental health outcomes in adolescents" (Twenge, 2020)

Integration Framework

These skills work synergistically:

  1. Foundation Layer
  1. Expression Layer
  1. Growth Layer
  1. Connection Layer

Key Research Insights

  1. Developmental Timing
  1. Cultural Considerations
  1. Implementation Principles

References

  1. Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself.
  2. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success.
  3. Rosenberg, M. B. (2015). Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
  4. Goleman, D. (2006). Emotional Intelligence
  5. Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full Catastrophe Living
  6. Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection
  7. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory
  8. Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen
  9. Waldinger, R. J., & Schulz, M. S. (2010). What's love got to do with it?
  10. Yeager, D. S., et al. (2019). A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement

Note: This framework synthesizes research but should be adapted based on cultural context and individual needs.

FYP Core Values & Skills Framework

Mapping Research-Based Skills to FYP's Mission

1. AGENCY

"People first. The power to create change lies within us."

Core Skills:

  1. Agency & Self-Efficacy
  1. Boundary-Setting & Self-Advocacy
  1. Resilience & Adaptive Coping

2. AUTHENTICITY

"Being our true selves is revolutionary."

Core Skills:

  1. Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence
  1. Authentic Self-Expression
  1. Purpose & Meaning-Making

3. COMPASSION

"All people are fundamentally kind."

Core Skills:

  1. Self-Compassion & Inner Kindness
  1. Relationship Building & Social Connection

4. OPENNESS

"Knowledge is free. Transparency builds trust."

Core Skills:

  1. Critical Thinking & Media Literacy
  1. Cultural Navigation & Code-Switching
  1. Digital Well-being

5. FUN/JOY

"Joy is resistance. Humor connects us."

Core Skills:

  1. Creative Expression
  1. Community Joy-Building
  1. Sustainable Happiness

Implementation Framework

Development Stages

  1. Foundation (Basic Skills)
  1. Growth (Intermediate Skills)
  1. Leadership (Advanced Skills)

Progression by FYP Involvement Level

General Members:

Active Contributors:

Core Team/Associates:

Measurement & Support

Individual Level:

Community Level:

Movement Level:

Set Boundaries, Find Peace

From Youth Advocacy to Personal Peace

Core Philosophy

At FYP, we believe that strong boundaries are not walls but powerful filters that allow us to be fiercely ourselves while engaging meaningfully with others. Boundary setting is both a form of self-love and a radical act of advocacy—protecting our energy allows us to show up authentically for ourselves and our causes.

Understanding Boundaries

What Boundaries Are

What Boundaries Are Not

Types of Boundaries

1. Physical Boundaries

Protecting our space and body

In Youth Advocacy:

"I need a day between events to recharge."
"I prefer video off during late evening meetings."

In Movements:

"Our protests will respect everyone's physical space."
"We'll include regular breaks in long sessions."

In Daily Life:

"I need alone time after school/work."
"Please text before dropping by."

2. Emotional Boundaries

Protecting our emotional energy

In Youth Advocacy:

"I can support the project but can't take on others' emotional labor."
"I need to step back from intense discussions sometimes."

In Movements:

"We'll create space for feelings without becoming overwhelmed."
"Each person owns their emotional journey."

In Daily Life:

"I care about you but can't be your only support."
"I need time to process before discussing intense topics."

3. Mental Boundaries

Protecting our mental space

In Youth Advocacy:

"I'll be offline after 8 PM to maintain work-life balance."
"I can focus on two projects max at a time."

In Movements:

"Let's set realistic expectations for volunteer time."
"We need clear project scopes to prevent overwhelm."

In Daily Life:

"I'll respond to non-urgent messages within 24 hours."
"Weekends are for recharging."

4. Digital Boundaries

Protecting our online space

In Youth Advocacy:

"I keep advocacy work to specific platforms."
"My personal social media is separate from movement work."

In Movements:

"We respect members' digital privacy."
"Campaign communication happens in designated channels."

In Daily Life:

"I take regular social media breaks."
"I don't check emails after hours."

Setting and Maintaining Boundaries

The FIERCE Framework

F - Feel

I - Identify

E - Express

R - Respect

C - Care

E - Evolve

Practical Implementation

In Youth Advocacy

1. Time Boundaries
   - Clear working hours
   - Response time expectations
   - Meeting length limits

2. Role Boundaries
   - Clear responsibilities
   - Capacity limits
   - Support structures

3. Communication Boundaries
   - Preferred channels
   - Response protocols
   - Urgency definitions

In Movement Spaces

1. Organizational Boundaries
   - Decision-making processes
   - Resource allocation
   - Member expectations

2. Coalition Boundaries
   - Partnership terms
   - Shared values
   - Collaboration limits

3. Impact Boundaries
   - Realistic goals
   - Sustainable practices
   - Growth pacing

In Personal Life

1. Relationship Boundaries
   - Quality time definition
   - Energy management
   - Support capacity

2. Work-Life Boundaries
   - Offline hours
   - Space needs
   - Recovery time

3. Growth Boundaries
   - Learning pace
   - Challenge levels
   - Change capacity

Common Challenges

1. Guilt Management

Challenge: Feeling guilty about setting boundaries
Response: "Boundaries allow me to show up fully and serve sustainably."

2. Resistance

Challenge: Others pushing back against boundaries
Response: "My boundaries are not negotiable, but I'm happy to discuss how we can work together within them."

3. Consistency

Challenge: Maintaining boundaries over time
Response: Start small, build gradually, celebrate progress

Boundary Setting Language

Clear Communication Examples

"I will..."
"I need..."
"I can..."
"I don't..."
"This works for me..."
"This doesn't work for me..."

Response Scripts

When pressured:
"I understand you need this, AND I need to maintain my boundary."

When guilt-tripped:
"I care about our work/relationship AND I must honor my needs."

When boundaries are crossed:
"This crosses a boundary for me. Here's what I need..."

Growth Process

Stage 1: Awareness

Stage 2: Development

Stage 3: Maintenance

Remember

"Through fierce boundaries, we don't just protect ourselves—we create space for authentic connection, sustainable activism, and collective flourishing."

The Body Is Not an Apology

Radical Self-Love Guide

Core Philosophy

At FYP, we believe radical self-love is not just personal—it's political. When we resist the urge to apologize for our existence and embrace our whole selves fiercely, we create ripples of transformation that extend from personal healing to systemic change.

Understanding Radical Self-Love

What It Is

What It Isn't

The Four Pillars of Radical Self-Love

1. Taking Up Space

Existing unapologetically

In Youth Advocacy:

"My voice matters, even when it shakes."
"My lived experience is valid evidence for change."

In Movements:

"We create space for all bodies and beings."
"Our differences strengthen our collective voice."

In Daily Life:

"I deserve to be here, exactly as I am."
"My needs are worthy of attention and care."

2. Interrupting Body Terrorism

Challenging systemic oppression

In Youth Advocacy:

"We challenge narrow definitions of 'professional' appearance."
"Our advocacy includes all bodies and abilities."

In Movements:

"We actively counter internalized shame."
"Our spaces celebrate human diversity."

In Daily Life:

"I question beauty standards that diminish me."
"I challenge negative self-talk with fierce compassion."

3. Building Radical Self-Love Tools

Practicing everyday liberation

In Youth Advocacy:

"We start meetings with embodiment practices."
"Our work honors everyone's physical and emotional needs."

In Movements:

"We integrate rest as resistance."
"Our activism includes joy and celebration."

In Daily Life:

"I practice daily acts of self-acceptance."
"I create rituals that honor my body and being."

4. Living in Community

Transforming together

In Youth Advocacy:

"We build networks of mutual support."
"Our strength comes from collective care."

In Movements:

"We practice inclusive leadership."
"Our work embodies collective liberation."

In Daily Life:

"I seek spaces that celebrate authenticity."
"I contribute to communities of radical acceptance."

Practical Applications

In Youth Mental Health Advocacy

1. Language Practices
   - Body-positive communication
   - Inclusive terminology
   - Empowering narratives

2. Space Creation
   - Accessible environments
   - Rest integration
   - Joy celebration

3. Program Design
   - Universal design principles
   - Diverse representation
   - Embodied learning

In Movement Building

1. Leadership Approach
   - Authentic expression
   - Diverse body wisdom
   - Collective care

2. Meeting Culture
   - Body-aware scheduling
   - Movement integration
   - Comfort prioritization

3. Resource Allocation
   - Accessibility funding
   - Well-being support
   - Rest infrastructure

In Personal Practice

1. Daily Rituals
   - Body gratitude
   - Self-acceptance practices
   - Joy cultivation

2. Environment Design
   - Comfort creation
   - Beauty redefinition
   - Space claiming

3. Relationship Building
   - Boundary setting
   - Need expression
   - Community connection

Common Challenges and Responses

1. Systemic Pressure

Challenge: Facing institutional body shame
Response: "My body is a site of resistance and revolution."

2. Internal Criticism

Challenge: Battling internalized judgment
Response: "I choose radical self-love as an act of political warfare."

3. Movement Burnout

Challenge: Neglecting self-care in advocacy
Response: "My well-being is essential to sustainable liberation."

Daily Practices

Morning

1. Body Gratitude
   - Thank your body
   - Notice strength
   - Celebrate function

2. Intention Setting
   - Choose self-love
   - Plan rest
   - Honor needs

Throughout Day

1. Body Check-ins
   - Notice feelings
   - Honor needs
   - Take breaks

2. Shame Interruption
   - Question judgment
   - Choose acceptance
   - Practice compassion

Evening

1. Reflection
   - Celebrate wins
   - Honor challenges
   - Note growth

2. Rest Practice
   - Give permission
   - Take space
   - Restore energy

Remember

Creating Ripples of Change

Individual Level

Community Level

Systemic Level

"Through radical self-love, we don't just heal ourselves—we create waves of transformation that ripple out to heal our world."

FYP Slay Index Interview Protocol

FYP Slay Index Interview Protocol

FYP Slay Index

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Rapport Building

• Welcome the participant; thank them for volunteering.

• Briefly introduce yourself and your research team/organization.

2. Study Overview

• Purpose: “We are exploring how youth advocates become involved in mental health activism, what motivates them, and what supports or resources they need to be more effective.”

• Emphasize that their experiences and perspectives will help design better solutions for future youth advocates.

3. Ethical Assurances

• Reiterate informed consent:

• Participation is voluntary; they can withdraw at any time.

• Their responses will remain confidential/anonymous as agreed.

• Confirm permission to record (audio or video) for transcription and note-taking.

2. Personal Background & Lived Experiences (10–15 minutes)

Objective: Build a contextual understanding of the participant’s personal history (4 Ls: Lived, Loved, Labored, Learnt), setting the stage for their advocacy journey.

1. Could you tell me a bit about your background and how you first became interested in mental health advocacy?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “Were there any personal experiences (Lived) that sparked your interest?”

• “What supportive relationships (Loved) influenced you early on?”

2. What aspects of your daily life or work (Labored) overlap with your advocacy?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “How did learning experiences (Learnt)—like formal education, training, or even online resources—shape your approach to advocacy?”

3. Could you describe any specific turning points or ‘aha’ moments that made you decide to take action in mental health?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “Was there a particular event or challenge that motivated you to shift from awareness to active advocacy?”

4. What does flourishing meant to you?

3. Advocacy Journey & Motivational Drivers (10–15 minutes)


Objective: Map out how Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation (COM-B) have influenced their activist behaviors, and uncover the evolution of their advocacy work.

1. How did you start your advocacy work?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• Capability: “Which skills or knowledge did you feel you had (or needed) at the start?”

• Opportunity: “What kinds of opportunities or enabling factors helped you get started?”

• Motivation: “What internal or external motivators kept you going in the early stages?”

2. What challenges or barriers have you faced in your advocacy journey?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “How did these challenges affect your motivation or ability to continue?”

• “Were there times you felt you lacked the capability or opportunity to push forward?”

3. Has your motivation changed over time?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “Were there new personal experiences or external events that boosted or diminished your commitment?”

• “Did you develop new skills or gain different kinds of support that shifted the way you advocate?”

4. Needfinding & Resource Gaps (10–15 minutes)


Objective: Identify the specific resources, support systems, or interventions that could better enable youth to engage in mental health advocacy—core “user needs.”

1. Thinking back on your journey, what resources or supports do you wish you’d had early on?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “Were you looking for mentorship, peer networks, funding, training?”

• “What would have made the biggest difference in overcoming barriers?”

2. What are the biggest unmet needs or gaps you still encounter as a youth mental health advocate?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “Are these gaps related to funding, policy support, organizational backing, emotional well-being, or something else?”

• “Where do you currently turn for help, and what do you struggle to find?”

3. If you could design or improve a program or platform to support youth advocates, what would it look like?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “What key features or tools would it need to include?” (e.g., mental health resources, leadership training, policy education)

• “How could it address issues like burnout, stigma, or lack of institutional support?”

4. In your opinion, what do emerging youth advocates need most to become effective social change agents in mental health?

• Possible Follow-ups:

• “Could you list the top 2–3 supports (e.g., skill-building, networking, mentorship, technology, funding) that are essential?”

5. Cross-Cultural / Intersectional Considerations (Optional, 5 minutes)


Objective: Understand how cultural, socioeconomic, and identity factors influence participants’ advocacy experiences and needs.

1. How do you think your cultural or community context has shaped your advocacy work?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “Have you encountered cultural norms or beliefs about mental health that made it harder or easier to advocate?”

2. In what ways do your various identities (race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) interact with your activism?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “Are there unique barriers or enablers tied to these intersectional identities?”

6. Reflection & Future Directions (5–10 minutes)

1. What do you hope the future of youth mental health advocacy looks like in your community or globally?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “How do you see your role evolving as part of that future?”

2. What advice or insights would you share with someone new to mental health advocacy?

• Possible Follow-up:

• “Is there a single piece of advice you wish you had when you started?”

3. Is there anything we haven’t discussed that you feel is important for us to understand about your advocacy journey or the needs of youth advocates?

4. Any questions you would like to ask other advocates?

7. Closing (2–5 minutes)

1. Express Gratitude

• Thank the participant for their honesty and time.

2. Next Steps

• Briefly explain how their input will be used (e.g., to inform solution design, develop an advocacy toolkit, shape subsequent research).

3. Invitation for Follow-Up

• Ask if they would like to stay informed about the project outcomes, publications, or pilot programs.

• Offer contact information for any follow-up questions or clarifications.

FYP Slay Index: Literature Review

1. Introduction

Youth mental health has become a focal point for global health agendas and social justice movements, spurred by rising rates of mental health challenges among adolescents and young adults (Patel et al., 2018). Simultaneously, a growing contingent of youth advocates and activists are positioning themselves as change agents, mobilizing peers to reshape policies and societal perceptions of mental health (Gonçalves, 2017). Despite the surge in youth-led initiatives, however, academic research often overlooks the day-to-day realities and nuanced pathways of these young leaders, focusing instead on clinical, institutional, or policy-level perspectives (Horgan & Martin, 2021).

Participatory Action Research (PAR) has increasingly been recognized as a transformative approach for engaging youth activists and communities in co-creating knowledge and solutions. Yet, the empirical base documenting how PAR can be methodically applied to understand—and bolster—youth-led mental health advocacy remains limited (Checkoway & Gutierrez, 2006; Minkler & Wallerstein, 2008). Your proposed two-pronged project—(1) capturing the journeys of youth mental health leaders and (2) conducting a broader PAR effort to shape solutions for 2030—therefore aligns well with critical gaps in the literature.

2. Youth Activism and Leadership: A Brief Overview

2.1 Defining Youth Activism

Youth activism broadly refers to the mobilization of young people in advocating for social, political, or environmental change (Kliewer & Priest, 2019). Within health contexts, youth activism often involves pushing for greater service accessibility, destigmatization, and policy reforms (Christens & Dolan, 2011). Researchers generally agree that youth activism is under-documented, particularly outside of high-income or Western contexts (Tuck & Guishard, 2013).

Gap: There is a recognized need for empirical studies that capture the multifaceted motivations, lived experiences, and personal stories behind youth leadership in health movements—including mental health.

2.2 Leadership Development and Empowerment

Youth advocates rarely operate in isolation; they often develop leadership skills through collective networks, mentorship, and hands-on advocacy experiences (Edwards et al., 2021). The COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behavior) has been adopted in health psychology to understand behavior change, including advocacy behaviors (Michie et al., 2011). Another framework often noted in youth engagement literature is Hart’s Ladder of Participation (1992), which illustrates various degrees of youth involvement in decision-making, from tokenism to genuine youth empowerment.

Gap: Although these frameworks provide conceptual clarity, limited research specifically maps how youth mental health leaders develop and sustain their advocacy work within these models, particularly in cross-national contexts or from a diverse cultural standpoint.

3. Youth Mental Health Advocacy: Lived Experience and Social Context

3.1 Importance of Lived Experience in Mental Health Advocacy

The principle “nothing about us without us” underpins much of the modern mental health advocacy landscape, emphasizing the centrality of lived experience in driving relevant and sustainable change (Rose & Kalathil, 2019). Recent studies document how personal encounters with mental health challenges can shape advocates’ policy perspectives, community-building approaches, and empathy toward those they serve (Gonçalves, 2017).

• “4 Ls” (Lived, Loved, Labored, Learnt): This framework underscores how personal experiences, emotional attachments, work or labor contributions, and learning journeys collectively inform an individual’s approach to advocacy (Adapted from Hoppe, 2019).

• Intersectional Dimensions: Youth advocates from marginalized backgrounds may face compounded challenges due to overlapping social identities (e.g., race, gender, sexuality), further complicating their advocacy work (Crenshaw, 1989).

Gap: Research tends to focus on either the clinical aspects of youth mental health or the policy outcomes of advocacy. There is less attention to the personal narratives and developmental trajectories of youth leaders themselves—especially how their own mental health journeys shape and sustain long-term activist engagement.

4. Barriers, Facilitators, and the Role of Networks

4.1 Common Barriers

1. Stigma and Adultism: Youth advocates frequently encounter dismissive attitudes from adults or gatekeepers (adultism), leading to a lack of credibility or exclusion from policy platforms (Wong, Zimmerman, & Parker, 2010).

2. Resource Scarcity: Limited funding, training, and institutional support hamper sustained advocacy efforts (Winter et al., 2023).

3. Burnout and Emotional Labor: Bearing the weight of personal mental health challenges while advocating for systemic change can lead to high burnout rates, especially when support systems or self-care practices are lacking (Gill & Orgad, 2018).

4.2 Key Facilitators

1. Peer Support and Mentorship: Access to experienced mentors and peer networks can validate young advocates’ perspectives and enhance their capacity (Gotfredsen & Landstedt, 2021).

2. Organizational Partnerships: Collaboration with NGOs, governmental agencies, and educational institutions provides both resources and legitimacy (Ross & Connors, 2018).

3. Digital Platforms: Social media and online forums enable rapid mobilization, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among youth advocates across geographical boundaries (Miller, 2020).

Gap: While many barriers and facilitators have been documented qualitatively, there are fewer in-depth investigations into how these factors intersect to shape youths’ long-term commitment, leadership style, and tactical approaches—particularly in mental health advocacy.

5. Participatory Action Research (PAR) with Youth Advocates

5.1 Foundations of PAR in Youth Research

Participatory Action Research is rooted in the principle that those most affected by an issue should be actively involved in generating knowledge and strategies for change (Minkler & Wallerstein, 2008). With youth, PAR takes on a transformative potential by reframing them as co-researchers rather than subjects of study (Checkoway, 2011). This inclusive, iterative methodology can foster empowerment, ensure cultural and contextual relevance, and lead to more impactful, community-owned outcomes.

5.2 PAR Applications in Mental Health Settings

• Co-Design of Interventions: PAR approaches have been used to co-design youth mental health services, ensuring that interventions are both acceptable and accessible to the target audience (Anyon et al., 2018).

• Policy Influence: By capturing authentic youth voices, PAR projects can generate policy recommendations grounded in real-world experiences (Jacquez et al., 2013).

• Capacity Building: Engaging young people in research processes can build transferrable skills (data collection, analysis, advocacy), contributing to sustained civic engagement (Christens & Speer, 2006).

Gap: Although PAR is well-documented in community health research, fewer studies systematically integrate PAR into global or multi-regional youth mental health advocacy settings. Additionally, many PAR studies focus on short-term outcomes (e.g., single campaign or pilot project) rather than extended processes—like leadership journeys, changing motivations, or shifting advocacy coalitions over time.

6. Synthesizing Gaps and Proposed Research Contributions

Drawing on the above themes, several clear gaps emerge that your two-part research design could address:

1. Longitudinal and Narrative Focus

• Gap: A dearth of in-depth narrative or longitudinal studies that examine the personal evolution of youth mental health activists.

• Contribution: Your Study 1: Documenting the Journeys of Youth Mental Health Leaders can fill this void, capturing the lived realities, turning points, and emotional labor inherent in sustained activism.

2. Global and Cross-Cultural Perspectives

• Gap: Existing literature on youth mental health advocacy often centers on high-income Western countries, limiting generalizability.

• Contribution: By recruiting youth advocates from diverse regions, you can illuminate cross-cultural similarities and differences in advocacy experiences—an area still underrepresented in peer-reviewed journals.

3. Rigorous PAR Methodologies Tied to Actionable Outcomes

• Gap: PAR in youth mental health advocacy is not consistently linked with structured, actionable plans for policy or programmatic change, and published scholarship often lacks robust theoretical grounding to guide iterative cycles of reflection and action.

• Contribution: Your Study 2: PAR on Youth-Driven Advocacy Solutions for 2030 can demonstrate how PAR can be methodically employed to move beyond exploratory insight into actionable, collective strategies. This study would exemplify how iterative workshops, focus groups, and co-analysis can yield community-driven solutions, bridging the academic-practice divide.

4. Measuring Impact and Sustainability

• Gap: Most research focuses on process evaluation (e.g., participation rates, satisfaction) rather than outcomes or sustainability of youth-led initiatives.

• Contribution: Incorporating outcome metrics—or at least structured follow-up interviews/surveys—could highlight how youth-led advocacy efforts evolve post-research, providing a clearer roadmap for replication and scale.

5. Integration of Personal and Structural Factors

• Gap: There’s limited research explicitly mapping how personal experiences (the “4 Ls”) interface with structural constraints (policy, funding, stigma). The COM-B model offers a starting point, but few studies apply it systematically to youth mental health advocacy contexts.

• Contribution: By combining inductive (narrative analysis) and deductive (COM-B) approaches, your research would illustrate how individual motivation and systemic opportunities interplay to shape activists’ trajectories.

6. Youth-Led Policy Interventions

• Gap: Though policy advocacy is a cornerstone of many mental health movements, there is scant empirical evidence about the specific capacities, networks, and resources that young people need to effectively influence policy.

• Contribution: The PAR approach in your project can help identify policy windows, stakeholder power dynamics, and youth-friendly engagement pathways, culminating in practical guidelines for youth-led policy efforts.

7. Conclusion

The burgeoning field of youth mental health advocacy calls for more holistic, action-oriented, and deeply contextual research. While existing scholarship highlights the significance of youth leadership, the role of personal experiences, and the utility of participatory methodologies, numerous gaps persist—particularly around the long-term, lived experiences of youth advocates and the systematic application of PAR for scaling real-world impact.

By weaving together (1) a focused, narrative-driven study on individual advocacy journeys and (2) a broader, iterative PAR engagement to co-create solutions for 2030, your research will occupy a vital niche in the literature. Not only does this approach hold promise for robust academic outputs suitable for journal publication, but it also offers a model of participatory scholarship that can directly inform and improve on-the-ground youth mental health advocacy. Ultimately, such a design responds to calls for more inclusive, ethically grounded, and actionable research—a hallmark of effective participatory action initiatives.

Select References

• Anyon, Y., Bender, K., Kennedy, H., & Dechants, J. (2018). A systematic review of youth participatory action research (YPAR) in the United States: Methodologies, youth outcomes, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 45(6), 865–878.

• Checkoway, B. (2011). What is youth participation? Children and Youth Services Review, 33(2), 340–345.

• Checkoway, B., & Gutierrez, L. (2006). Youth participation and community change: An introduction. Journal of Community Practice, 14(1-2), 1–9.

• Christens, B. D., & Dolan, T. (2011). Interweaving youth development, community development, and social change through youth organizing. Youth & Society, 43(2), 528–548.

• Christens, B. D., & Speer, P. W. (2006). Tyranny/Transformation: Power and paradox in participatory development. Forum Qualitative Social Research, 7(2), Art. 22.

• Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139–167.

• Edwards, G., Stein, S., & Kong, P. (2021). Fostering youth leadership to address global challenges: A systematic review of effective practices. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 16(1), 88–104.

• Gill, R., & Orgad, S. (2018). The shifting terrain of sex and power: From the #MeToo moment to #TimesUp. Feminist Media Studies, 18(3), 489–491.

• Gonçalves, M. (2017). Adaptive leadership in the promotion of youth mental health. International Journal of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, 4(1), 1–6.

• Gotfredsen, A. C., & Landstedt, E. (2021). ‘I teach them that anything is possible’—Exploring how adult leaders perceive and handle social factors of youth mental health in the context of young people’s civic engagement. Community Development Journal, 56(3), 506–523.

• Hart, R. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

• Horgan, S. A., & Martin, D. J. (2021). Supporting Youth as Partners in Mental Health Initiatives: A Scoping Review. Adolescent Research Review, 6, 457–472.

• Jacquez, F., Vaughn, L. M., & Wagner, E. (2013). Youth as partners, participants or passive recipients: A review of children and adolescents in community-based participatory research (CBPR). American Journal of Community Psychology, 51(1-2), 176–189.

• Michie, S., van Stralen, M. M., & West, R. (2011). The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6(1), 42.

• Minkler, M., & Wallerstein, N. (Eds.). (2008). Community-based participatory research for health: From process to outcomes (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

• Miller, J. (2020). Social media activism, youth, and mental health: A digital ethnography of possibilities and pitfalls. New Media & Society, 22(7), 1198–1214.

• Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., et al. (2018). The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. The Lancet, 392(10157), 1553–1598.

• Rose, D., & Kalathil, J. (2019). Power, privilege and knowledge: The untenable promise of co-production in mental health. Frontiers in Sociology, 4, 57.

• Ross, L., & Connors, L. C. (2018). Improving youth access to mental health support through a youth–adult partnership. Journal of Youth Development, 13(3), 23–40.

• Tuck, E., & Guishard, M. (2013). Uncollapsing ethics: Racialized science and ethnographic inquiry. In E. Tuck & W. Yang (Eds.), Youth resistance research and theories of change (pp. 3–23). New York: Routledge.

• Winter, R., Burford, G., & Thompson, J. (2023). Youth organizing: Trends, challenges, and opportunities for equitable resource allocation. Youth & Society, Advance online publication.

• Wong, N. T., Zimmerman, M. A., & Parker, E. A. (2010). A typology of youth participation and empowerment for child and adolescent health promotion. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46(1-2), 100–114.

FYP Slay Index

OG: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EwhrtIWKesEEAFbX67-7KXGE944tzLMB3TTZ3nRyTsc/edit?tab=t.0

Overarching Aim

To understand how personal experiences and motivational drivers shape the journeys of youth mental health advocates and to identify the key supports and resources these advocates need to sustain and scale their impact—thus informing the design of targeted solutions for future youth change agents.

1. Research Questions

1. Personal Experience and Advocacy Trajectory

How do the personal histories of youth advocates (encompassing the “4 Ls” of Lived, Loved, Labored, Learnt) influence their decision to become mental health activists?

2. Motivational Mechanisms (COM-B)

In what ways do elements of Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation foster or hinder the advocacy behaviors (B) of youth activists over time, and how do these factors interact in different cultural contexts?

3. Identifying Advocates’ Needs

What specific supports, resources, or capacities do youth advocates identify as crucial to initiating and sustaining their activism?

- Examples: Mentorship, funding, training, community support, mental health resources, policy literacy, etc.

4. Designing Solutions for Future Advocates

Based on youth advocates’ journeys and identified needs, which types of interventions or system-level changes would most effectively enable more youth to engage in mental health activism and leadership roles?

5. Cross-Cultural and Intersectional Dimensions

How do intersectional identities (e.g., race, gender, socio-economic status) and cultural norms shape both the barriers and enablers of effective youth advocacy, and how might solutions be adapted to address these contextual nuances?

2. Literature Review and Rationale

FYP Slay Index: Literature Review

3. Proposed Methods

3.1 Study Design and Participants

• Sampling:

• Purposefully recruit 20–30 youth mental health advocates, ensuring representation from multiple regions (e.g., Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America).

• Strive for diversity in age, gender, socio-economic status, and advocacy focus (e.g., policy, community outreach, digital campaigns).

• Ethical Considerations:

• Protocols for emotional support if sensitive topics arise.


3.2 Data Collection

1. Narrative Interviews (3 Phases)

FYP Slay Index Interview Protocol

• Phase 1 (Baseline): Explore personal backgrounds, catalysts for advocacy, experiences with mental health, and initial resource needs.

• Phase 2 (Midpoint, ~6–8 months): Revisit changes in motivation, new barriers or enablers, emerging or unmet needs.

• Phase 3 (End, ~12–15 months): Capture reflective insights, shifts in personal or professional identity, and updated viewpoints on required supports.

2. Needfinding Dialogue and Cards

• Method: Introduce a “needs card-sorting” exercise (virtual or in-person), where participants rank or group the types of support they find most critical (e.g., mentorship, funding, policy knowledge, mental health coping tools).

• Purpose: Generate specific, structured data on the hierarchy of needs and possible solutions for each advocate.

3. Observational Data

• If feasible, gather field notes or observation data during relevant advocacy events, online community interactions, or workshop sessions.

• Rationale: Complement narratives with real-time evidence of how youth navigate their environment (e.g., do they have easy access to mentors or not?).


3.3 Data Analysis

1. Narrative Analysis

• Inductive Coding: Identify emergent themes and personal stories from transcripts.

• Deductive Mapping: Relate themes back to COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation—>Behavior) and the 4 Ls (Lived, Loved, Labored, Learnt).

• Intersectional Lens: Group narratives by intersectional identities (e.g., region + gender) to note differences or commonalities in resource needs.

2. Thematic Analysis of Needfinding Data

• Compile the results from the card-sorting or “needs ranking” exercises.

• Identify patterns or clusters (e.g., do participants overwhelmingly cite ‘peer mentorship’ as a top resource?).

• Synthesize these into a “needs matrix” that can inform solution designs.

3. Longitudinal Comparison

• Compare participants’ responses across the three time-points to see how needs evolve and how personal motivation interacts with discovered or newly provided resources.

4. Anticipated Contributions and Actionable Outputs

1. Identification of Key Leverage Points

• The project clarifies when youth need certain supports the most—e.g., early-stage training vs. ongoing peer mentorship.

• This evidence can guide youth-serving organizations to allocate resources more effectively.

2. Youth Advocacy Toolkit or Support Framework

• Develop a publicly available toolkit summarizing the main types of support needed at each phase of an advocate’s journey, grounded in the COM-B and 4 Ls frameworks.

• Include recommendations for policy-makers, educational institutions, and NGOs on how to nurture youth activism.

3. Cross-Cultural Insights

• Generate comparative analyses illustrating how cultural contexts shape youth advocacy needs, highlighting successful localized strategies that could be adapted globally.

• Offer a basis for equitable policy solutions that respect diverse intersectional realities.

4. Academic Outputs and Knowledge Sharing

• Journal Articles: Focus on theoretical advancements (e.g., refining COM-B applications) and intersectional frameworks in youth mental health advocacy.

• Conference Presentations: Share both the narrative findings and practical solution prototypes at forums on youth mental health, activism, or participatory research.

5. Longer-Term PAR or Implementation

• Findings from the needfinding element can feed into a subsequent Participatory Action Research phase or direct collaboration with partner organizations, ensuring that insights translate into on-the-ground interventions.

Select Additional References

• Brown, T., & Wyatt, J. (2010). Design thinking for social innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review, 8(1), 30–35.

• Bessant, J. (2020). Young people, politics and the micro-foundations of civic life. Australian Journal of Political Science, 55(1), 49–64.

• Christens, B. D., & Dolan, T. (2011). Interweaving youth development, community development, and social change through youth organizing. Youth & Society, 43(2), 528–548.

• Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139–167.

• Hart, R. (1992). Children’s participation: From tokenism to citizenship. UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

• Hoppe, R. (2019). Perspectives on lived experience: Emerging frameworks for mental health research. Social Science & Medicine, 233, 7–14.

• McMahon, T., et al. (2020). Applying COM-B to activism behaviors: Youth climate activism as a health behavior. Health Education & Behavior, 47(6), 971–978.

• Meeus, W. (2016). Adolescent psychosocial development: A review of longitudinal models and research. Developmental Psychology, 52(12), 1969–1993.

• Michie, S., van Stralen, M. M., & West, R. (2011). The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6(42), 1–11.

• Patton, M. Q. (2018). Principles-focused evaluation: The GUIDE. Guilford Publications.

• Riessman, C. K. (2008). Narrative methods for the human sciences. SAGE Publications.

• Rose, D., & Kalathil, J. (2019). Power, privilege and knowledge: The untenable promise of co-production in mental health. Frontiers in Sociology, 4, 57.

• Tuck, E., & Guishard, M. (2013). Uncollapsing ethics: Racialized science and ethnographic inquiry. In E. Tuck & W. Yang (Eds.), Youth resistance research and theories of change (pp. 3–23). Routledge.

• Wong, N. T., Zimmerman, M. A., & Parker, E. A. (2010). A typology of youth participation and empowerment for child and adolescent health promotion. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46(1-2), 100–114.

FYP Virtual Gathering: One-Page Executive Summary

Overview

FYP will convene a small, high-impact virtual focus group series to:

  1. Co-create a Collaborative White Paper on the top youth mental health challenges and solutions.
  2. Lay the Groundwork for a Consulting Firm that leverages our youth-led network to offer expertise to funders, NGOs, and tech entities.

This plan builds momentum for FYP’s annual summit and positions us as a central node in youth mental health.

Key Outcomes

  1. Collaborative White Paper

    • Focus: Identify 5–10 priority mental health issues, highlight novel strategies, and compile recommended actions.
    • Value: Demonstrates collective expertise, serves as a pitch document for funders and partners.

  2. Consulting Firm Formation

    • Services: Policy advising, youth engagement strategy, user-centered design feedback.
    • Revenue: Earns fees from corporate/philanthropic clients, reinvests into FYP’s mission.

Proposed Timeline & Milestones

  1. Initial Virtual Sessions (Mar–Apr)

    • Invite ~12 core advocates and allies to small (5–7 person) roundtables.
    • Goal: Gather insights, define urgent problems, begin brainstorming solutions.

  2. Synthesis & Roadmap (Apr–May)

    • FYP team consolidates input into a “Draft White Paper.”
    • Share draft for participant feedback and finalize a near-complete version.

  3. Formation & Testing (May–Jun)

    • Formalize the consulting concept (service offerings, initial clients).
    • Conduct a second round of virtual gatherings (a single larger session or multiple smaller ones) to finalize White Paper content.

  4. Launch & Scaling (Jul–Aug)

    • Use the White Paper to solicit funding and partnerships.
    • Begin small-scale consulting engagements or pilot projects.

  5. Annual Summit (Sep)

    • Showcase final White Paper and celebrate the consulting firm’s launch.
    • Align new partners, secure funding commitments, and plan next-year goals.

Priority Invitees

These individuals bring policy connections, grassroots perspectives, or specialized expertise to guide our white paper and consulting roadmap.

Action Steps

  1. Finalize Invitations

    • Draft short, high-level invites emphasizing the collaborative white paper and the consulting firm plan.

  2. Schedule First Roundtables

    • Aim for 2-hour sessions in small groups.
    • Assign note-takers for quick synthesis.

  3. White Paper Drafting

    • Identify a small internal team to compile roundtable insights into a structured outline.

  4. Consulting Firm Exploration

    • Begin drafting a one-pager on potential services (e.g., youth advisory boards, mental health policy audits).
    • Gather references/real-life case studies to anchor credibility.

By executing this plan, FYP advances its standing as a premier youth-led mental health collective—offering both a unifying policy framework (white paper) and a new revenue-generating arm (consulting firm).