hi all! welcome back to our podcast and a special episode with a member of Washington State's Legislative Youth Advisory Board! in this episode, we dive into how youth can begin their journey with advocacy, how to get involved in their schools, and also talking about personal experience with youth depression and how one can help themselves navigate through that hardship.

as promised, here is some brief information about current (and dead) bills in WA state regarding youth mental health:

there were a couple of bills this past session focused on improving support for youth, especially in schools. one of them was hb 1663 (and its partner bill sb 5369), which wanted to expand the role of school social workers and get more mental health interns and associates into schools, especially in communities that need it most. sadly, that bill didn’t move forward this session. another one was hb 2038 (and sb 5799), which proposed creating a youth behavioral health fund by taxing big social media companies. the idea was to use that money to boost mental health services for youth across the state. that bill also didn’t pass this time, but it shows that there’s growing attention on youth mental health in the capitol.

source: washington state legislature website at leg.wa.gov

hi hi all!! we're BACK and better than ever, giving you an episode on how to have a #mindfulandproductive summer! just because its summer does NOT mean you have to rot all day or be in your summer slump. summer is the time to ENJOY the little things and re-set your mind to be happy and healthy 💛💛

we have exciting content coming up and loads of features to have more diverse voices on the podcast, so stay tuned!! if you want to read more about the science behind the "summer slump", keep reading below:

so if you’re wondering what this whole “summer slump” thing is about, it’s when summer seems like freedom at first but turns into boredom, isolation, and zero motivation, which can actually make anxiety or depression worse. kids often lose the structure they have during the school year, making it harder to adjust back in the fall. college students can also feel disappointed or behind if they don’t have a plan.

the good news? beating the slump is all about adding some structure and intention! for younger kids, keeping a simple routine, planning fun activities, giving them space to play on their own, and using small rewards can help a ton. for college students, it’s about creating a schedule you’re excited for, making time to rest and recharge, staying socially connected even from a distance, trying new things, and letting go of the pressure of what you “should” be doing.

basically: summer doesn’t have to mean rotting away or feeling stuck. with a little planning, you can reset, enjoy the little things, and have the happiest, healthiest summer ever! stay tuned for more awesome tips and voices coming your way!! 💛✨ #mindfulandproductive

source: behavioralpsychstudio.com

we're done! the dreaded junior year is finally behind us which means an episode reflecting on what it means to find ourselves after IB, navigating the confusing thoughts of being a teenager, and being scared of the future. join us in this rollercoaster by listening in!

we hope you enjoy this light hearted episode and found some relatability in our thoughts post-junior year, or some comfort knowing that this year isn't as bad as people make it out to be! you're never alone!

with love, kushi & yana