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FYP Slay Index Interview Protocol

FYP Slay Index Interview Protocol

1. Introduction &(5 Rationaleminutes)

Engaging1. 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 throughbecome one-on-oneinvolved interviewsin offersmental ahealth high-impactactivism, waywhat motivates them, and what supports or resources they need to strengthenbe relationships,more surfaceeffective.”

unmet

• needs,Emphasize that their experiences and co-createperspectives strategieswill help design better solutions for collective action. Research on youth participation (Checkoway, 2011; UNICEF, 2018) shows that personalized outreach and meaningful involvement boost long-term engagement and leadership development.

Key Goals

  1. Understand Current Needs: Identify each advocate’s top challenges, interests, and barriers to deeper engagement.
  2. Introduce FYP’s Policy Branch Concept: Gauge interest in contributing to emerging initiatives that influence policy and drive collective impact.
  3. Deepen Connections: Build trust, gather feedback, and provide a direct pathway to FYP’s mailing list, Slack, and future collaborative opportunities.

FYP Slay Index: Literature Review

2. Interview Objectives

  1. Assess Engagement Barriers: Why might advocates be less active now (time, resources, clarity on next steps)?
  2. Uncover Areas for FYP Support: Where can FYP help—whether through policy briefings, resource-sharing, or capacity-building?
  3. Explore Policy Interests: How can advocates collaborate on a youth-led policy campaigns?
  4. Strengthen Advocacy Network: Rekindle Slack activity, expand the mailing list, and identify future youth leadersadvocates.

    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 policy-orientedmental work.

    5. 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. MethodologyAdvocacy Journey & Motivational Drivers (10–15 minutes)


  1. ParticipantObjective: Selection: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?

      •

    • StartPossible withFollow-ups:

      a

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

      • Opportunity: “What kinds of ~20 advocates who have shown interestopportunities or haveenabling uniquefactors expertise.

      • helped
    • Graduallyyou expandget tostarted?”

      all

      • 70+Motivation: “What internal or external motivators kept you going in the Slackearly community if capacity allows.

  2. stages?”

    Scheduling & Format:

    • Conduct2. 30-45 minute virtual calls (via Zoom or phone).
    • Associates will send personalized invitations via Slack DM or email.
    • Offer flexible time slots to accommodate diverse schedules.

  3. Data Collection & Consistency:

    • Use a standardized interview guide (see Section 5) to ensure comparable data.
    • Record key insights in a shared spreadsheet (or Airtable/Google Sheet) after each interview.
    • Track who consents to mailing list inclusion and policy/think-tank follow-up.

  4. Ethical Considerations:

    • Emphasize voluntary participation.
    • Ensure confidentiality of personal details; share only aggregated findings unless permission is given.

4. Sample Interview Questions

Use open-ended questions, then tailor follow-ups based on each advocate’s responses.

  1. Current Involvement & Interests

    • “What youth advocacy work are you currently focused on or passionate about?”
    • “Have you been active in FYP events/Slack recently? If not, what’s been the main barrier?”

  2. Identifying Needs & Challenges

    • “What challenges areor barriers have you facingfaced in your advocacy workjourney?

      • 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., funding,mental networking,health resources, leadership training, policy knowledge)?”

      • education)

    • • “How could FYPit betteraddress supportissues like burnout, stigma, or lack of institutional support?”

      4. In your projectsopinion, 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 initiatives?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.

    3. In
  3. 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?”

    FYP’s6. PotentialReflection Role& Future Directions (5–10 minutes)

      1.

    • “What typesdo you hope the future of resources,youth trainings,mental health advocacy looks like in your community or collaborations would be most helpful to you?”
    • “If FYP were to launch a youth-led policy branch or think-tank, what topics or issues would you want it to address?”

  4. Policy & Think-Tank Interestsglobally?

      •

    • “ArePossible you interested in shaping policy or working with FYP on advocacy campaigns that influence decision-makers?”
    • “What would motivate you to contribute to a youth think-tank within FYP?”
  5. Follow-up:

    Communication• & Next Steps

    • “How do you prefersee 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 (Slack,about email,the text)?”

      • project
    • “Wouldoutcomes, youpublications, likeor topilot joinprograms.

      our

      • focusedOffer mailingcontact listinformation for policyany updates,follow-up new opportunities, and event invitations?”

  6. Closing

    • “Is there anything else you’d like to sharequestions or anyclarifications.

      questions

       for us?”

    • “Thank you! We really value your insights—looking forward to collaborating more.”

5. Expected Outcomes

  • Insights on Engagement Gaps: Understand the “why” behind current participation patterns, informing strategies to revitalize Slack and event attendance.
  • Policy & Think-Tank Roadmap: Gauge interest and gather fresh ideas for a potential youth-led research and policy-advocacy branch under FYP.
  • Targeted Support Initiatives: Discover what trainings, mentorship, or resource-sharing can bolster advocates’ impact.
  • Strengthened Relationships: Increase advocates’ sense of belonging and ownership within FYP.
  • Mailing List & Slack Reengagement: Grow a targeted mailing list of members eager for updates and re-ignite Slack conversations through personal follow-ups.

6. Brief Supporting Literature

  • Checkoway, B. (2011). “What is youth participation?” Children and Youth Services Review, 33(2), 340–345.
    • Explores frameworks for meaningful youth engagement and the importance of direct dialogue.
  • UNICEF (2018). Adolescent and Youth Engagement Strategic Framework.
    • Emphasizes inclusive methods for involving young people in decision-making and policy influence.

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