Youth Council for Suicide Prevention
CONNECT. INSPIRE. ACTIVATE.
The Youth Council for Suicide Prevention (YCSP) is a small group of diverse teenagers from local high schools who are committed to improving the health and well-being of Cincinnati youth by working to prevent suicide. In previous years, members developed mental health and suicide prevention videos, organized a gala, presented at local conferences and high schools, and conducted their own research and projects. The YCSP is run jointly by 1N5 and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
To learn more about the YCSP please click on the links below.
The YCSP is a group run in collaboration with 1N5 and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
HISTORY:
The Youth Council for Suicide Prevention (YCSP) was initiated in 2013 by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Emergency Department to address the need for continued attention to suicide prevention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, approximately 75 youth have served on the council. In 2018, the YCSP began working in conjunction with 1N5. YCSP values the voice of young people and aims to empower youth to address an issue that has a profound affect on them. Members are recruited from area schools and most members have dealt with suicide first-hand through family, friends or their own attempts. Since its foundation, YCSP has contributed to the work of CCHMC in a variety of ways. The council meets every other Sunday, 1-3pm, late August to May. We have breaks over the winter holidays and summer vacation. As a member, you are required to not miss more than three meetings (unless for extenuating circumstances). Time in the council counts towards volunteer/service hours through your high school.
MISSION:
To work with the hospital and the community toward our goals of ending mental health stigma and creating tangible change through projects that engage students while making sure that we are taking care of ourselves and creating positive relationships among us.
Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be posted Spring of 2024.
Spring Into Strength
On April 23, 2023, YCSP hosted Spring Into Strength: A Deep Dive Into the Sources of Strength Wheel. The wheel reflects 8 areas of strength that can be used to help navigate the ups and downs of life. The event’s eight stations highlighted each of the 8 pieces of the wheel and featured Pat Coyne as the speaker. He openly and vulnerably shared his mental health journey.
City Wide Gratitude Challenge
YCSP members decorated rocks and then attached the gratitude challenge directions with a QR code for people to learn more about how the power of gratitude changes the brain and fosters wellbeing. Rocks were dispersed across the city in a variety of locations.
YCSP Member Generated Resources
YCSP members worked to collect various Mental Health resources—apps, podcasts, hotlines, social media accounts, books–you can use to help you stay well. Check it out here!
Fighter Fest
YCSP hosted an afternoon event at Five Points Alley where participants were invited to listen to speakers, play carnival-style games, participate in various art activities, and enjoy delicious BBQ from Just Q-in.
Imperfection is True Beauty: Learning about Mindsets
This virtual event included activities that normalized all individuals are working on challenging negative thought patterns and helped increase self-love. Dr. Staurt Slavin then joined the call to discuss his work on perfectionism and mindsets.
2020 Minds Unlimited: Finding Your Strength
The 2020 evening event, which has been postponed due to COVID-19, will include storytelling to stop the stigma around mental illness, an interactive experience for guests to learn resiliency strategies, and light bites and refreshments. The evening will focus on how to move from surviving to thriving as we all work toward living a full and productive life despite any mental health challenges.
Annual Mayerson Conference
The Mayerson Student Service Leadership Workshop is an opportunity for community- based organizations to present themselves to students from various high schools across the city. Each year, YCSP creates an interactive and engaging presentation to help stop the stigma around mental health and encourage students to practice mental wellness. In 2016, YCSP won the Mini-Grant Philosophy Challenge award for the group’s presentation.
2018 Youth for Survival Gala
In 2018, YCSP hosted the Youth for Survival Gala during Mental Health Awareness month which a focus on promoting suicide prevention and mental health education and awareness for the community. The evening event included appetizers, local artist galleries, musical entertainment, speakers, workshops, and a silent auction. YCSP Gala raised over $3864 towards suicide prevention and mental health awareness!
A sample of the Gratitude Rocks dispersed around the city.
Getting setup for our Fighter Fest at Five Points Alley – April 25, 2021-
Working on bracelets and other crafts at Fighter Fest at Five Points Alley – April 25, 2021
Students hanging out at one of the game booths at Fighter Fest at Five Points Alley – April 25, 2021
Students participating in the corn hole tournament at Fighter Fest at Five Points Alley – April 25, 2021
Students presenting at the 2019 Mayerson Conference
Students presenting at the 2019 Mayerson Conference.
Speaker, Lauren Tebbe, sharing her story at the YCSP Youth for Survival Gala
Guest enjoying the speakers during the 2018 YCSP Youth for Survival Gala.
Students working during a YCSP meeting.
Result of a brainstorming session after a YCSP meeting.
