Safe Spaces: How Digital Environments Can Serve Youth
Technology plays a large role in our lives, especially the lives of youth, teens, and young adults. Accepting this new reality and the importance of the digital world allows us to figure out how it can be a positive in our lives and even benefit our mental health. For many youth and young people, online communities can provide safe, inclusive, affirming environments, where they can be themselves and connect with others who are similar to them.
Join MHA and guests for this free, 60-minute webinar where we will:
- Discuss the benefits of healthy online spaces
- Identify types of support available to youth via technology
- Explore how to encourage youth to engage online in healthy ways
Meet the speakers
Euan Hwang is the YouthLink Manager at CenterLink with over ten years of experience in youth programming. Since 2011, he has managed and coordinated various youth programs to improve the well-being of youth, equip the youth with leadership and life skills, and build safer spaces for a diverse group of youth. He is especially interested in listening and responding to the needs of queer and trans immigrant youth of color & bridging the gap between the youth and their parents/families/culture. When he's not working, Euan likes playing video games, watching anime, practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and trying new recipes!
Dr. Tonya Battle is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who earned a Doctorate of Psychology specializing in Child and Adolescents. Her clinical interests have included psychological and neuropsychological evaluations, children and adolescents, and trauma and mood disorders. She recognized the gap in care for marginalized communities and founded Battle Clinical Services. This private practice focuses on destigmatizing mental health while employing evidence-based strategies to meet client's needs, particularly within the BIPOC community. With more than 15 years of experience in corporate leadership, mental health counseling and advocacy, and academia, Dr. Battle aims to employ a unique and holistic approach to client wellness. She actively collaborates with leaders within the community in raising awareness around mental health, facilitating trauma support groups, and promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention programs.
Whitney J. Raglin Bignall, Ph.D., is the associate clinical director of The On Our Sleeves Movement For Children's Mental Health and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Before joining the On Our Sleeves team, Dr. Raglin Bignall worked at a primary care center that served a primarily low-income and racially diverse community. She implemented a program to help enhance parenting skills for raising young children. She built partnerships with community organizations, primary care offices, and neighborhood schools. Dr. Bignall was named to the Who's Who in Black Columbus list in 2019 and is a 40 under 40 Leader in Minority Health award winner of the National Minority Quality Forum and the Congressional Black Caucus.
Cecilia McGough (they/she) is a New York City-based mental health activist, nonprofit executive director, co-author, public speaker, consultant, and former radio astronomer. McGough is autistic and also happens to have schizophrenia, but they do not let their diagnoses define them. McGough is the founder and executive director of the global nonprofit Students With Psychosis.