Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer May 2024: Mental Health Month
Resources
SoulSculpters
100 Deadliest Days
Check out various free resources to support your mental health and wellness.
Guest writer Andrea shares about her new soon to be nonprofit dedicated to crafting for mental wellness.
Ben shares about the increase in teen crashes that happens Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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SoulSculpters: Crafting Mental Wellness Together
by Andrea Alvarez, Guest Writer
In the year 1949, May was officially declared “Mental Health Awareness Month”, a month dedicated to raising awareness of mental illness and its impacts on individuals all across the world. In this excerpt, we’ll explore the significance of Mental Health Awareness Month and shine a spotlight on Soulsculpters, a remarkable nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness through arts and crafts.
May was chosen as Mental Health Awareness Month because it provides an opportunity to engage communities, educate the public, and reduce stigma surrounding behavioral health issues. By highlighting mental illness and addiction, this month encourages open conversations and emphasizes the impact these conditions have on individuals, families, and society at large. Mental health awareness is crucial for a variety of reasons such as reducing stigma, providing better access to resources for the public, and overall promoting well-being!
MADD Teen Influencer
May 2024
Soulsculpters is a (soon to be!) nonprofit organization based in Montebello, California. Our mission is to promote mental health awareness through artistic expression and engaging activities. We believe that creativity and art can play a transformative role in healing and recovery. To strengthen this idea, we have provided our community with several engaging activities and arts and crafts throughout the numerous outreach events we have attended and hosted. One of these activities was a slime making workshop that we hosted at our school. This event featured a diverse array of accessories for a diverse audience! After our event, we collected reflection forms to gauge how our audience felt about the activity. We were met with overwhelmingly positive responses, each explaining in detail how much the activity helped them, actively proving our mission.
I was really stressing out about finals week but this meeting helped me take my mind off all my tests and just take a break.
When words fail, art speaks. It allows individuals to express complex feelings and experiences that may be difficult to verbalize. As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s recognize the impact of organizations like Soulsculpters. Through art, we remind our community that healing is multifaceted, and creativity plays a vital role in our well-being. Whether you’re an artist, a supporter, or someone on their own mental health journey, take a moment to appreciate the power of art in shaping our lives. More About SoulSculpters: Crafting Mental Wellness Together
@SoulSculpters https://soulsculpters.carrd.co/
MADD Teen Influencer
May 2024
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. MADD Teen Influencers may respond to your question on the next episode of Healthy Teen Talks! TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has been called the “100 Deadliest Days” due to the fact that fatal teen crashes rise dramatically during this time. The alarming spike in crashes has been attributed to teens having more free time, an overall lack of experience, and distracted driving from having friends riding along in the car. Parents must remain hypervigilant during this time as teens are looking forward to the independence and freedom that comes with summer. It might take a little extra courage and energy to set time aside to have by Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer 100 Deadliest Days 2
these important conversations about driving during these months, but it can make a drastic difference in preventing a deadly crash and changing your teen’s life forever. To start, parents must lead by example. According to the National Safety Council, a recent survey reported that 91 percent of parents who use their cell phones while driving do it in front of their teens, knowing that they are the main influence on how their teens drive. Parents should limit distractions while driving with their teens and never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
MADD Teen Influencer
May 2024
There are three important factors that must be considered when parents take initiative in talking to their teens prior to these “100 Deadliest Days:”
Distractions The main distractions for teens are texting or talking to other passengers. These distractions are the reason for six out of every ten crashes. Research has found that texting while driving increases a teen's risk of crashing by six times, and texting while driving increases the risk by 23 times. Research also shows that the risk of a fatal crash goes up in direct relation to the number of teenagers in the car. Seatbelts Surprisingly, teens are less likely to buckle up when driving with peers. In 2022, 50% of teen drivers who died were unbuckled. When the teen driver involved in the fatal crash was unbuckled, nine out of 10 of the passengers who died were also unbuckled. Many teens may think they are invincible or that they don't need seat belts. They may have a false notion that they have the right to choose whether to buckle up. Set a good example as a parent and role model by always wearing your seat belt in the car. Reckless Driving Speeding is a serious safety issue for teens. A study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) found that teens were involved in 19,447 speeding- related crashes. There is also evidence that teens tend to speed over a longer period, possibly as they gain confidence in driving. Teens that are watched closely and monitored while driving with their parents are less likely to speed. The more involved parents are in helping their teens learn to drive, the more responsible their teens will become behind the wheel. Since teens learn by watching, parents should never speed in front of their teens as kids learn from observing their parents’ actions.
MADD Teen Influencer
May 2024
Parents are the number one influence on their teen driver’s safety. Self- reported studies show that teens whose parents set driving restrictions typically participate in less risky driving and are involved in fewer crashes. By starting the conversation early, setting high standards, and defining clear rules from the beginning, these somewhat simple yet imperative steps can help save your teen’s life. One of the most powerful things a parent can do before your teen starts driving is to get it in writing. Have your teen sign a contract and define the consequences for breaking the rules. Talk to your teens early and often. Teens want to be safe and capable drivers. With our parents’ support we can stay safe during these “100 Deadliest Days”.
Nominate an Influencer of the Month! Do you know an influential teen who is a great role model? We would love to spotlight them! Click on the icon to the left or use the link below to share why they should be MADD's Influencer of the Month!
TINYURL.COM/MADDIOTM
Influencers of the Month: Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer Ashwin Goel, Explorer Lieutenant On Thursday, May 9th, MADD Southern California recognized these two young leaders at the 2024 Orange County Law Enforcement & Prosecutor Recognition Awards. Ben Haworth received the Outstanding Volunteer Award for his work with the MADD Teen Influencer Group. He is passionate and creative, always up for a challenge in helping move our mission forward. Explorer Lieutenant Ashwin Goel was recognized with the Power of You(th) award for being an amazing role model for others and his active participation in DUI enforcement with Irvine Police Department.
MADD Teen Influencer
May 2024
Click on the image to learn more about these free resources for mental wellness. For Mental Health Awareness Month Mental Health Resources 3
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
@MADDCalifornia
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