Youth Speak Out Event Returns With Focus on Youth Mental Wellness in a Post-Pandemic World

Youth Speak Out is back! After a break during the pandemic, the Youth Council is happy to announce their first online Youth Speak Out event on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 5:30 p.m.

This year’s Youth Speak Out, a fully-virtual event, is called SBYC Speak Out on Mental Wellness; the event topic for 2022 is mental health for young people. 

“The youth in our community have been through so much for the last couple years and mental health is now more important than ever,” said Sagarika Manian, Youth Council member.” and we want to help the youth find the resources for help if they need it.”

The SBYC Speak Out webinar will begin with a panel of local experts in youth mental health, including Alexis Malatesta from the Mental Wellness Center and Rachael Steidl from YouthWell. Each expert will speak about mental wellness issues and local resources, including continuing pandemic-related mental health impacts on youth in our community. Guests will take audience questions then encourage the teens in attendance to join the discussion, providing an opportunity to share their views via an open-mic format.

Encouraging young people to educate themselves on important issues and available resources for teens and early adults is something the Youth Council encourages as part of its mission. “As teen representatives, it’s our responsibility to make sure youth voices and issues are heard,” said Youth Council member Amelia Vander May. 

SBYC Speak Out is open to the public; the Youth Council hopes to attract a diverse group of attendees to promote productive and exciting dialogue.

SBYC Speak Out is open to the public; the Youth Council hopes to attract a diverse group of attendees to promote productive and exciting dialogue. To sign up to attend Youth Speak Out, please visit: YouthSpeakOut2022.

Event Details

Webinar: SBYC Speak Out on Mental Wellness

• Monday, March 28, 2022, at 5:30pm
• Online webinar format
• Admission is free! No cost to attend

Where to sign up:
https://bit.ly/SBYC-YouthSpeakOut2022

Confirmed Speakers

• Alexis Malatesta, Mental Wellness Center
• Rachael Steidl, YouthWell

Please visit the SBYC Instagram for more information on speakers as they are confirmed: http://instagram.com/SantaBarbaraYouthCouncil.

Note

Depending on individual school policy, students may receive one hour of community service credit for attending this event. Please check with your guidance counselor or another school official to confirm.

Established in 1994, the Santa Barbara Youth Council is an advisory committee created to give teens in the Santa Barbara area a voice in local government. The fifteen members of the Youth Council are aged 13 to 19. Each serves a two-year term, advancing youth issues while gaining valuable experience giving back to the community and participating in the public process.

In addition to organizing educational and community-minded events such as Youth Speak Out!, the Youth Council encourages collaboration among the many local agencies and organizations with youth-oriented missions, promotes youth participation and interest in local issues, and can make recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Santa Barbara City Council on issues and policies affecting local youth and teens.

For more information, please visit the Santa Barbara Youth Council website at https://bit.ly/SBYouthCouncilWeb or send an email to Nicole Morgan at NMorgan@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or call (805) 564-5418.

About the Parks and Recreation Department

The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department proudly maintains a wide range of parks, facilities, and programs designed to serve the needs of the community.

Our mission is to:

• provide clean and safe parks, beaches, and recreation facilities,
• enhance Santa Barbara's beauty,
• promote stewardship of resources,
• provide quality recreation and cultural experiences and community services,
• improve the quality of life for Santa Barbara residents.

To find out more about the Parks and Recreation Department, please visit the City of Santa Barbara website at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ParksAndRec, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or sign up for our email list at bit.ly/LoveParksAndRec.