Vaughan Bagley, senior manager of social impact at MTV Entertainment Group, and Jorge Alvarez, a Youth Action Forum participant, joins Cheddar News to discuss MTV's Mental Health Youth Action Forum.

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MTV Launches Mental Health Youth Action Forum

if you didn't already hear MTV is going to be working with the biden Harris administration and 18 mental health nonprofits from across the country to facilitate the first ever mental health youth action forum MTV handpicked 30 mental health activists and creators to share how storytelling and media can effectively advocate for mental health in this country. And I'm one of those 30 I'm so excited because I'm extremely passionate about unlearning limiting beliefs and breaking generational cycles, especially in the latino community, which I've done by sharing my experiences here with all of you. And it's all part of de stigmatizing mental health and welcome back everyone lane and out. All right there is that Tiktok from participant from MTV Entertainment groups recently announced inaugural cohort of 30 young mental health content creators and activists who are all going to participate in the mental health youth action Forum and this new forum gonna be held in coordination with the Biden Harris administration and it's set to take place later this spring. So joining us now to discuss Von Bagley, senior Manager of Social impact over at MTV Entertainment Group and Tiktoker Jorge Alvarez Youth Action Forum participant, Great to have both of you here with with us. Von I want to start with you. This new forum from MTV gonna follow President biden's State of the Union remarks about the national mental health crisis that we're facing in this country. So why was now the time to sort of create this here. Yeah, thanks so much for having a speaker, I think. You know, obviously we've all seen that the mental health crisis is, is reaching unprecedented levels right now, particularly among youth and particularly among youth of color and LGBTQ youth as well. And so we at MTV, we know that we have a platform that reaches millions of young people every single day. And what better way to, you know, use that platform than to actually be able to uplift the voices of those young people who deeply understand the challenges and the barriers that they and their peer space when trying to take mental health actions. And so we are so excited about this forum and the cohort that we've been able to build. These young people are doing amazing things in their communities already. You can see that from Jorge A's video. And um I think, you know, we're excited to see what they are going to be able to do together um once they're they're going through this program and um coming to the forum. Absolutely. And Jorge, we just showed our viewers earlier that Tiktok that you have created, participants are going to engage in a six week facilitated program, all the sort of define a mental health problem, prelevic in their communities. What does it mean for you in particular to to be a part of this, but also just sort of highlight things that are happening in particular communities here, Let me say April 3, 2021 was when I started my Tiktok journey where I decided, you know what I'm just gonna start talking to the camera. So going from behind my cellphone to now in front of the big screen is amazing when it comes to, you know, actually participating in the forum, which thanks to MTV and all the partner organizations, it's a reminder that my voice is not only powerful but needed, right? It's a reminder that my identity and who I am and the way that I present and talk about mental health issues is important and that there needs to be more of me talking about this. So that's the first thing. And when it comes to my community, I think at the end of the day, I am the representation that I needed and still need today. And that's why having the seat and having quite literally a seat at the table was so meaningful and important to me because, you know, when I was at one of my low points, I needed a jorge to talk to me and advocate for me and strategize behind these campaigns and here I am. Absolutely. And the personal connection that you get is the most important thing for a lot of these people, especially if they're struggling von as I mentioned earlier, senior officials from the biden Harris administration, they're expected to speak at this forum. What sort of impact do you do? Does the White House now participating in this sort of have on this forum that you have officials in the government being a part of this. Yeah, I mean, I think we we see this as a massive, massive problem that deserves, massive solutions and that comes with some cross sector engagement. And so we are bringing in a number of industry partners won't just be MTV entertainment in the room. The biden administration, of course, this is a huge priority for them. And so they will have a number of their senior officials participate. Um and then we have the young people themselves and everything that they are going to be bringing to this conversation and the nonprofits that they're working with um to bring these ideas to life into the forum. And so I think, you know, there's a lot of opportunity for in that room really digging into what are the ways that we can use media and storytelling as tools for change um to actually impact the lives of young people across the world. Absolutely. And so jorge, let's talk about those in particular because following this six week program, participants are going to present those ideas to the White House. And by the way, this includes creative content like P ECE is podcast, digital art, all improving about improving everybody's mental health. But you can't get a bigger platform than taking this to the White House. I mean, like how incredible is that to sort of have that platform here. I listen, when I got the email, I was at a loss for words, right, You know, as a latino first generation recent college grad, I don't really see many people like me who have positions of power and who are advocating for the issues that impact my community specifically. You know, we are extremely underrepresented when it comes to mental health and that's why I'm so excited. MTV is using their platform, their resources to empower young voices of color because we have so much to offer and so much value in our ideas. And um as just mentioned, you know, when it comes to my passion for creative storytelling and what it is that I want to inspire in my community this platform and actually sitting in front of elected officials and leaders in general who will actually be listening and give me that space to voice what it is that I know my community needs is absolutely incredible. Ivan, I have about a minute left here with you guys, there were hundreds of applicants and I can see why they would want to take part in this. But obviously the selection process whittled that down. What was the selection process like here in terms of choosing these applicants. Yeah, it wasn't easy. Um and you know, obviously we are super excited about the cohort that we were able to develop and pull together. Ultimately, we were looking for those who had a demonstrated leadership already in their communities. Whether that be at the grassroots level or through the digital communities that they've built online. Like Jorge has done himself, um and then also looking for those who really can speak directly to their own lived experience and speak directly to their peers in those communities that we know are at most at risk of these challenges and are not getting the resources and the support that they need and deserve. Um, so we have this amazing cohort. They all have very diverse perspectives and experiences and skill sets, and they're all going to be bringing those to this program and ultimately to the ideas they present at the forum. Well, I'm so happy that you guys are at least doing this. Von Bagley, senior manager of Social Impact at MTV Entertainment Group and JorGE Alvarez Youth Action Forum participants, great to have both of you here with us.