Eliminating the stigma of mental illness is one of the goals of students at Center Line High School. They designed a series of posters to encourage teens to take advantage of available mental health services. (Poster creator: Samiat Hasan)
Center Line High School psychology students are working with the Macomb County Health Department to raise awareness of and encourage use of mental health services available to youth.
Students from the CLHS Health and Human Services Academy worked with MCHD to create posters and messages promoting positive behavioral health.
Working individually and in small groups, students from CLHS psychology classes created youth-focused behavioral health images and messages centered around reducing stigma and encouraging young people to seek help for mental health concerns and substance use.
More than 25 projects were submitted, and four were selected to be published in print and on social media: “Speak Up” by Samiat Hasan, “54Y 50METHING” by Arienna Young and Miles Waugh, “7:45 Nevaeh” by Jaclyn Kupraszewicz, and “Don’t Smoke Your Fruits” by Nik Ferrin and Trent Zielinski.
The poster project aligns with Healthy Macomb’s recently released 2024-28 Community Health Improvement Plan, which identifies behavioral health as a priority area.
Healthy Macomb is a partnership between MCHD and more than 25 organizations, agencies and community members dedicated to identifying and creating solutions that address health issues in Macomb County.
The primary driver of the Community Health Improvement Plan is a Community Health Assessment that identifies the most common health problems and highlights what community members feel are the most pressing health, wellness, and socio-economic needs within their community.
“Our evaluation was able to capture the voices of more than 6,500 adults through surveys and outreach efforts to gather input from county residents,” said Maria Swiatkowski, MCHD Director of Community Health Planning and Advancement. “However, historically, the evaluation and engagement process has not adequately represented the voices of young people.
“The 2023 evaluation cycle saw us increase youth engagement, but concerns around mental health were a common theme.”
Swiatkowski said involving students in developing behavioral health messaging helps them feel like they are part of a positive change effort to remove the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage young people to seek help when they need it.
“Thanks to the Health Department’s invaluable support, our Academy students were able to participate in a fascinating and compelling project,” said Academy coach Christine Akraush of Center Line High School. “This project not only deepens our students’ understanding of behavioral health issues, but also empowers them to seek out and make meaningful contributions in their community.”
For more information about Healthy Macomb and the Community Health Improvement Plan workgroup, or to download the evaluation report and findings, visit macombgov.org/CHA .
