Congratulations to Oak Forest High School Junior Ryan Lipsett, who has been named to the Creative Visions Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee! This elite committee is composed of teens from all over the United States and is focused on promoting mental health awareness for teens through storytelling and creative expression.
In recognition of World Youth Mental Wellness Day on March 2, Creative Visions launched its inaugural Mental Health Youth Advisory Committee to support its #CreateConnectCare campaign, which is focused on promoting mental health awareness for youth through storytelling and creative expression. This committee of diverse and passionate young leaders will play a crucial role in shaping the campaign's direction and ensuring its initiatives resonate with the needs and experiences of their peers.
According to Creative Visions, The Youth Advisory Committee will provide invaluable guidance and insights for the initiative that empowers youth to explore mental health and well-being through art, music, writing, filmmaking, and other creative mediums to raise awareness, reduce stigma, build connections, and promote care for themselves and others.
"We are excited to welcome these bright and dedicated young leaders to the #CreateConnectCare team," said Pat Chandler, CEO of Creative Visions. "Their unique perspectives and lived experiences will be instrumental in shaping a campaign that truly speaks to the hearts and minds of our target audience. We believe their involvement is key to ensuring the campaign's authenticity, effectiveness, and lasting impact."
Ryan Lipsett, Youth Advisory Committee member, Class of 2025 at Oak Forest High School, will be leading Mental Health awareness engagement activities and a collaborative Mental Health project in the Oak Forest community.
Lipsett is passionate about advocating for mental health wellness for his fellow teens.
“I got the email that invited me to apply, that asked a few questions [about mental health] and why it is important,” he said. So he filled out the form and told Creative Visions about promoting awareness through brands and sharing his thoughts about mental health.
The main thing about mental health in teens, Lipsett says, is the stigma. He believes they don’t reach out for help because they are comparing themselves to social media peers whom they perceive as leading “happy” lives, in comparison to the reality of their own. He says this stigma can be perceived as, "you’re weird," or "you’re different because you have difficulties surrounding mental health."
Lipsett has already had one meeting of the Youth Advisory Committee and looks forward to more of them, and getting to work in a positive way towards teens and mental health. The initial members of this Youth Advisory team have an important role in shaping the campaign's direction and ensuring its initiatives resonate with the needs and experiences of their peers.
Lipsett will be leading mental health awareness engagement activities and a collaborative Mental Health project in the Oak Forest community, one which the OFHS community is looking forward to wholeheartedly.