Youth Mental Health Innovation Challenge

IGNITE. INNOVATE. IMPLEMENT

1N5, in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the University of Cincinnati, Interact for Health, and Design Impact, hosted the inaugural Youth Mental Health Innovation Challenge in 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. This two-day workshop fostered a unique learning experience and professional development for incoming tenth – twelfth graders, as well as a rewarding experience for mentors passionate about improving the lives of today’s youth and tackling relevant mental health issues. Participants utilize the Design Thinking process to present innovative and practical solutions to a mental health challenge prompt to a panel of expert judges. The top winning teams, working with their mentor, receive grant money to implement their ideas in the community over the course of the year.

Click on the links below for additional information, pictures, videos, and team projects.



                 
Workshop Overview:

  • The workshop begins with a talk educating and inspiring students on the innovative design thinking process and problem-solving strategies.
  • From there, students work in small teams of six to create, develop, and present their creative solutions to intentional mental health challenge prompts designed to make students think outside the box to arrive at useful and practical solutions for today’s youth.
  • Student teams work closely with professional mentors on their solution development, proposal, pitch, and presentation.
  • At the end of the second day of the workshop, student teams present their innovative solutions in front of an expert judging panel of mental health and social change experts.
Awards:
  • One student team is awarded implementation funding to execute their idea over the course of the year. Awards for the top solutions are as follows:
    • The top student team will be awarded a $5,000 grant
Learning Objectives:
  • Gain an understanding of the design thinking process and strategies
  • Brainstorming and ideating in small groups
  • Learn critical problem-solving and program development skills
  • Learn the power of a professional elevator pitch
  • Establish and build pitch presentation and public speaking skills
  • Engage in project-based learning
  • Collaboration and teamwork amongst peers to devise innovative and creative ways to address critical areas of need within society
  • Positive Pandas presents “TAPE” 

    Positive Pandas plans to implement TAPE, an interactive training program for educators to better understand and reach students experiencing mental illness. TAPE includes a virtual reality component, a reflection process, and a toolbox.

  • The Feels presents “Feelings Bracelets” 

    The Feels’ plan is to create charm bracelets to be handed out to school children in the first through third grades. The charms would be emojis and would allow students to express how they’re feeling, making their emotions visible to teachers and peers.

  • Vulnerable Vigilantes presents “Self Care Center” 

    Vulnerable Vigilantes seeks to construct a self-care center, a physical space within schools where students could go to check in with their mental health. The center would include a yoga studio, a self-care shop offering goodies and resources, a nap room, a mood room, a coffee shop, and a self-care storage center.

  • Mequalizers presents “Into my Mind: A Multifaceted Experience”

    Mequalizers plans to create a multifaceted exhibit to help people understand the reality of mental illness. The exhibit includes brain scans for those who are more analytical thinkers as well as artwork for more visual learners. It gives the audience a glimpse inside the mind of someone experiencing a mental illness.

  • Conversation Creators presents “Transparency Creates Conversations”

    Conversation Creators intends to use virtual reality (VR) to help people understand what it’s like to experience a mental illness. This VR experience will increase transparency, which will create conversations and a network of support.

  • 2019 YMHIC Highlight Video

    Check out the highlight video from the 2019 Youth Mental Health Innovation Challenge. All of our participants did an amazing job and impressed us with their dedication to solving various challenges. We can’t wait to see how our teams do next year.

  • 2018 YMHIC Highlight Video

    Check out the highlight video from our first-annual Youth Mental Health Innovation Challenge. We couldn’t be more impressed with everyone’s dedication to solving the various challenges. All of our participants did an amazing job.

  • Peers4Change Present “The Big Picture”

    Peers4Change, winners of the $5,000 grand prize grant, present their solution to challenge prompt #4: How might we positively use peer influence to impact mental health?

  • The Lunachicks Present “Speak Up”

    The Lunachicks, one of three teams combined to receive a $2,000 grant, present their solution to challenge prompt #1: What is the most impactful solution we could offer your school?

  • Halcyon Presents “Define & Normalize” 

    Halcyon, one of three teams combined to receive a $2,000 grant, presents their solution to challenge prompt #3: How might we define and normalize mental health as a core aspect of life?

  • Break the Silence Presents “Educational Awareness Campaign”

    Break the Silence, one of three teams combined to receive a $2,000 grant, presents their solution to challenge prompt #4: How might we positively use peer influence to impact mental health?

  • Stigma Stoppers I Presents “Project All Ears”

    Stigma Stoppers I, winners of a $1,000 grant, present their solution to challenge prompt #5: How might we create prevention programs – What do they look like to you?

  • SOCS Presents “Wellness Check” App

    SOCS, winners of the $1,000 grant, present their solution to challenge prompt #2: How might we use the media to reduce mental health stigma?

  • Queen City Warriors Present “1N5 Mentorship Program” 

    Queen City Warriors present their solution to challenge prompts #1: What is the most impactful solution we could offer your school?

  • Enigma Presents “Unmasked”

    Enigma presents their solution to challenge prompt #2: How might we create prevention programs – What do they look like to you?

  • LOUD Presents “L.O.U.D. App” 

    LOUD presents their solution to challenge prompt #3: How might we define and normalize mental health as a core aspect of life?

  • Iron Man Presents “S.H.I.E.L.D.” 

    Iron Man presents their solution to challenge prompt #4: How might we positively use peer influence to impact mental health?

  • Mystery Presents “Project PACT”

    Mystery presents their solution to challenge prompt #5: How might we create prevention programs – What do they look like to you?

  • Stigma Stompers Present “Talk Box”

    Stigma Stompers present their solution to challenge prompt #1: What is the most impactful solution we could offer to your school?

  • Stigma Stoppers II Present “Level Up for 1N5” 

    Stigma Stoppers II present their solution to challenge prompt #2: How might we use the media to reduce mental health stigma?

  • Pterodactyl Presents “Happy Healthy Minds” 

    Pterodactyl presents their solution to challenge prompt #3: How might we define and normalize mental health as a core aspect of life?

  • Team Fusion Presents “Light in the Darkness” 

    Team Fusion presents their solution to challenge prompt #5: How might we create prevention programs – What do they look like to you?

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    Dr. Tom Merrill teaching participants about the Design Thinking Process.

  • Dr. Merrill incorporating games to enagage participants during the first day of the workshop
  • Students working through the Design process to arrive at their final solution.
  • Students finalizing their pitch to present to the judges.
  • A student team, Our Voices, delivering their pitch to the panel of judges.
  • Participants working on the reflective art prompt lead by Indigo Hippo

2019 Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Positive Pandas will work to implement their teacher training utilzing virtual reality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Our Voices will work to implement their newsletter for teens, by teens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The Mequalizers will work to implement their interactive traveling display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The Conversation Creators will work to create their Virtual Reality experience focused on creating empathy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Vulnerable Vigilantes will work to impelement their Chill Zones into high school(s) in the Cincinnati area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The Feels will work to implement their idea of helping elementary age students identify their feelings at the beginning of the day and the utlize regulation strategies to either calm down or increase their energy levels.

2018 Projects

Peers4Change

  • Over the course of the next year, Peers4Change will be executing their “The Big Picture” idea, which is a Pop-Up Storytelling Exhibit.
The Lunachicks, Halcyon, and Break the Silence

  • These three teams will be working together to merge their ideas together into a cohesive school-wide wellness week project.
Stigma Stoppers

  • Stigma Soppers will spend the next year working on “Project All Ears” an active listening training program.
Team SOCS

  • Team SOCS will continue to work together over the next year to bring their “Wellness Check App” to execution.

    Stop the Stigma.

    Start the Conversation.


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