Submitted Works

Mental Health & The Voices of Youth

To be brave is to act with authenticity despite having fear. To express from deep knowing that comes from lived experience can be an act of bravery. The Create Resilience Youth Mental Health Campaign is honored to share with you insight from thoughtful and brave words, ideas, and creative contributions on how to improve youth mental health. Below are the submission received, click on each image to view the full submission. 

Hope, healing, and new ways to serve and live can be found within the pages of “Mental Health & The Voices of Youth.” In reflective response and heartfelt caring may we respond with individual, community, and systemic acts of inspired bravery on behalf of youth and their mental health well-being.

Sally

by Cameren, 20 yo

I want to submit my drawing of my dog Sally, because she’s becoming very important in helping my mental health. I adopted her three weeks ago, so we’re still getting to know each other, but we already have a special bond.

I’ve been in a routine of doing pretty much nothing since the pandemic started. Preparing to adopt Sally made me more productive around the house, and since Sally came home, I’ve been much more active. Before, I wasn’t very motivated to get out of the house and stretch my legs; and I didn’t want to go for walks by myself. Now, I’m going on three to four walks per day with Sally. She’s even helping me have a better sleep schedule. I am motivated to get out of bed a little earlier in the morning so I can take care of her, which means I go to bed a little earlier at night.

Sally keeps me company while my dad works in his office. She sits on the couch with me and rests her head in my lap. (Which is what she’s doing as I write this.)

The feeling of having earned a dog’s trust and love is one of the most amazing feelings in the world! Now that I have a new loyal friend by my side, I have no doubt that she will give me confidence boost whenever I need it.

I want people to know that someday, hopefully, it will get better.

I’ll hold your head up high,
And wipe your salty tears.
The weight of the world
Rests on your shoulders.

But just know,
That someday,
Someday it will be okay.

Step out of the dark,
And heal your wounds,

Because one day:
You will be okay.

Chain your demons,
To the dungeon wall,

And dream of a brighter future
Where the battles have been fought.

It’s not all on you,
To be happy,
And when your smile is a plastic shield,

And your soul is weary from fighting,
There’s a light in the gloomy storm.

Love is apparent
It’s held by the future of yourself.
You’ve survived thus far,

And even if the journey wasn’t far,
It was exhausting.

No one could see your problems,
And you thought they didn’t exist.

But your burdens aren’t a hoax,

And it’s never your fault,
For crying out when nothing works,

Only to be answered by the lonely ghost
That haunts your head.

The people tread on your grave,
And you think that all is lost,

But don’t give up hope just yet,

Because some day,
Your wounds will have healed

Into lightning bolt scars,
Blessed by the thunder and flood.

And we know in our hearts,
That someday,
It will be okay.