Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Mental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norman Youth Council Proposes City-Sponsored Community Events to Support Youth Mental Health
Summary
Members of the Norman Youth Council presented a research-based proposal for recurring community events, life-skill workshops and coping-skill activities to address youth mental health and social isolation.
The Norman Youth Council presented recommendations to the City Council May 27 urging the city to host recurring community events and programs aimed at improving youth mental health. Youth council members described their research, which included two community panel sessions and a peer survey of about 35 students from Norman High and Norman North.
Ashlyn Wilkerson, who the council recognized to lead the presentation, said the council's research found 42.9% of survey respondents report mental health is not talked about enough in Norman, 45.7% said there are not enough city-offered activities they would attend, and 71.4% said a community event would be more effective than existing efforts. Youth presenters proposed three program elements: community events to build relationships (examples: a Legacy Trailblazers scavenger hunt, mural projects and group painting activities), life-skills workshops (gardening, healthy cooking, interview/job preparation, study groups) and age-appropriate positive coping activities (yoga, breathing exercises, therapy dogs, journaling and creative play). The council stressed consistency and recurring scheduling as essential to reducing stigma and creating reliable "third spaces" for youth.
Several youth described concrete event concepts: a downtown scavenger hunt to connect youth with local businesses and history; a mural program called "Brush of the Future" to give youth ownership of public art; "Masterpiece Madness," a series of group painting games; and hands-on gardening and cooking classes that presenters cited research to support as helpful for mental health outcomes. Presenters emphasized tailoring activities by age group and repeating events to build routine and peer relationships.
Council members and staff praised the presentation and requested staff circulate the youth council materials to council members; staff committed to sending the presentation packet. The youth council also announced applications for the next term are open through June 30.
