In this episode of Meaningful Medicine, hosts Shieva and Nicole speak with Dr. Tomás Magaña, founding director of FACES for the Future Coalition and an adolescent medicine doctor.

Dr. Magaña discussed how he and his co-founder were inspired to create FACES and described the program’s comprehensive approach, as well as crucial themes like code-switching and resilience. Through compelling anecdotes and insights, he vividly demonstrates the profound impact pipeline programs wield, not just in shaping the career trajectories of young people but also in fortifying their overall health and safety. Dr. Magaña’s narrative underscores the incredible power and importance of pipeline programs for URM students and highlights the continued need for resources and support for these programs.

 

November is Native American Heritage Month, in which we get to recognize and honor the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of the United States. We not only acknowledge the resilience and strength of indigenous peoples but also work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society that respects and values the cultural diversity that has shaped the nation’s identity. Hear what our students have to say about their experience as Native Americans:

Wylee Matine

Ya’at’eeh, Hello my name is Wylee Matine. I am full Navajo and come from a small reservation west of Albuquerque. I currently attend the Native American Community Academy (NACA), which has given me the opportunity to learn about my culture through an academic setting. In the past, academic settings were used to take us out of our traditional ways, but NACA has used this academic setting to provide indigenous learning to students of Native American descent. To me, Native American Heritage Month is something that gives us the opportunity to represent our cultures, express who we are as indigenous people, and be acknowledged by others. Growing up, I’ve been exposed and built a strong connection to my family’s traditional practices. This connection allowed me to understand my culture and learn what otherwise may have been lost many years ago. Not only is Native American Heritage Month about acknowledging indigenous people, but it’s also about expressing our history and all the problems we faced as Indigenous people. Growing up, I wasn’t proud of my culture and where I came from, but attending NACA I am proud being Native and proud of my tradition that’s been taught to me from generations before. With Native American Heritage Month, I hope others learn about my culture and allow us to represent who we are as Indigenous people.

Emily Salt

Ya’at’eeh Emily yinishye, hello my name is Emily Salt and this is my experience and view on my heritage. Growing up, I wasn’t really fazed by my culture and traditions—it felt so common. As I grew up, I was able to see how little Native people are actually known even in history. We’re still seen as historic, or we get mistaken for other ethnicities. I’ve always been in touch with my traditions and I think that’s why I’ve never really struggled with my identity, but I still feel a slight discomfort when I leave to bigger cities. I feel like I have to prepare myself for the questions I’d get about my features or where I come from, only for them to try and correct me saying I was wrong. Or just the lack of knowledge people have about people like me, in other reigns where we’re not as prominent. Having a month to make us feel appreciated is very gratifying, to show that we’re still around and aren’t just present as we are in books but people. Just have different traditions and ways of teaching that are beautiful. When this month comes around indigenous people are able to spotlight their talents such as traditional dances, arts, songs, and so much more. It allows us to bring awareness to the many facets of traditions we have in the spectrum of indigenous people everywhere. Ahe’hee, thank you!

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Day on October 10, let’s focus our attention on the mental wellbeing of our youth. Our mental health affects so many areas of our lives, including how we feel about ourselves, experience the world, build relationships, perform at school or work, and much more. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the proportion of high school students who report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness has increased by 40% since 2009 and disproportionally affects people of color and LGBTQ+ youth. While we’ve come a long way in reducing the stigma of mental health, there is still more to do. Nurturing the mental health of our youth is a responsibility we all share.

As a teen, I struggled with my mental health. I faced severe bouts of depression, engaged in self-harm, had suicidal ideation, had to learn how to manage ADHD—the works. Even now, I wish I could tell you some powerful story about overcoming it, but the truth is I continue to struggle with it every single day. Here’s what I can tell you: I used to feel sad about feeling sad (meta-sad, I call it). Now, I welcome it and I’m grateful to be able to experience the breadth of human emotion. It doesn’t mean it’s not hard, but at least I can see some beauty in it now. In my teenage years, allowing myself to lean on the people closest to me was the single most valuable thing I could have done for myself.

Whether you are a parent, educator, healthcare professional, sibling, or friend, your role is pivotal in supporting young people and their mental wellbeing. Here are just a few ways you can help:

• Create safe emotional spaces in schools, homes, and communities that are free of judgment
• Address the social and economic barriers that contribute to poor mental health
• Increase awareness about mental health resources and tools in your community
• Advocate for affordable and accessible mental health care
• Seek support from your friends and family and invest in those healthy relationships (even supporters need support sometimes!)
• Learn and practice techniques that work for you to manage stress and other difficult emotions

Studies show that adolescents who have low social support are over six times more likely to experience low mental wellbeing. I think it’s fair to say that we all know someone who is struggling with their mental health. Maybe a young person has confided in you, maybe you’ve noticed a change in their behavior, or maybe you have no idea who they are. It’s in those moments of vulnerability that we can truly make a difference in a young person’s life. Because there is no way to know who is battling with their mental health, I invite you to approach every situation and every individual with a compassionate curiosity. Listen to people with a genuine interest of what their world is like and seek understanding without judgment. And, most importantly, treat yourself with the same compassionate curiosity.

– Vanessa Tat, FACES Program Assistant

 

For more information, check out the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Youth Mental Health here.

Mental Health Resources

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Text or call 988) – Connects individuals with crisis counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat or texting
• California Health & Human Services Agency – A list of hotlines available for youth, parents, friends, and family
• National Alliance on Mental Illness – Mental Health Guide for Youth
• Mental Health America – Free Mental Health Test Screenings (some available in Spanish too)
• Self-care check – a fun and interactive game that guides you through question that help you practice self-care

FACES is excited and grateful to announce that two of our South Alameda County students, Kevin Celedonio and Sofia Dominguez, received the 2023 Leslie Preston Memorial Scholarship from the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County. Kevin and Sofia were selected for their mental health advocacy efforts, resilience in the face of adversity, and their commitment to future careers in the behavioral health professions.

Leslie Preston was a staunch community advocate working in the field of mental and behavioral health who always brought mission to the forefront of every conversation. As Director of Behavioral Health at La Clinica de La Raza in Oakland, CA, Leslie was a partner in building a FACES program in the Fruitvale neighborhood; focused solely on supporting youth into community-based careers in behavioral health. Leslie was passionate about her work, her family and equity. She was the kind of person who drove those around her to want to be better, and she did this with compassion and heart. This scholarship is the Behavioral Health Collaborative of Alameda County’s way of remembering and honoring Leslie’s life and legacy.

We are so proud of Kevin and Sofia, and deeply grateful to the Behavioral Health Collaborative for their continued recognition of FACES students/alumni as we work in partnership to diversify the behavioral health workforce.

 

Pictured from top to bottom:

Jasmine Nakagawa (FACES Program Manager), Matthew Madaus (Executive Director, Behavioral Health Collaborative), Kevin Celedonio (scholarship recipient), Sofia Dominguez (scholarship recipient), Dayan Zakrzewski (FACES South Alameda County Program Coordinator), Nancy Facher (Director of Behavioral Health, La Clinica de La Raza), Jackie Penate (FACES AmeriCorps VISTA), Sabrina Park (FACES AmeriCorps VISTA)

We are so excited to welcome students back into our classrooms this Fall. Buckle in for another year of fun clinical workshops, certifications, and internships! Hear from our Program Coordinators about what they’re most excited for as the new school year comes around:

“I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces from last year, getting to know all the new students and planning some fun field trips for folks!” – Sarah Murphy-Cook, FACES San Francisco

 

 

 

“I’m looking forward to connecting with students and seeing how their summer went!” – Rachelle Banares, FACES San Francisco

 

 

 

 

“This back-to-school season, I am excited to meet the new FACES cohort, and catch up with my students from last year. Now that I’m officially a seasoned program coordinator I’m most excited to get back in the classroom and present fun information!” – Dayan Zakrzewski, FACES South Alameda County

 

 

 

“Here at Hoover High School in San Diego, we are looking forward to having the seniors attend clinical rotations once again this year at Rady Children’s Hospital.  Last year was the first year, since the pandemic, that we were able to host them in the hospital. We are hoping this can continue, as it was a great experience for our seniors and really helped most of them solidify their interest in healthcare careers.  We had a lot of interest in the spring when we presented to the freshman classes to recruit for the upcoming FACES fall cohort, and we are happy to report that we have completed recruitment for our incoming sophomore class and met max capacity. We looking forward to our new FACES faces and excited to show them all the awesome opportunities that await them.🙂 ” – Nikki Lopez, FACES San Diego

 

“A new school year means a refreshed mind! I look forward to students having chances to interact with healthcare professionals and to learn more by doing, whether it’s workshops, internships, or field trips. It’s always wonderful to see their reactions to something new that’s related to their career interests.” – Joycelin Chou, FACES San Diego

 

 

 

“I am excited to see the students and jump into clinical rotations. The seniors have been looking forward to this experience for a long time. I also cant wait to help them with their college application process and see what schools they get accepted into at the end of the year.” – Shadeh Rassoulkhani, FACES San Diego

 

 

 

“It’s an opportunity to start fresh and to dream again. Maybe we had a great summer, and we want to build off it. Or maybe we had okay summer and want to use the fall to do things differently, to ask more of ourselves and dedicate time to our passions or experiences that will be beneficial for us. There’s an abundance of creative energy and dreaming and I hope that everyone gets to bottle some of it up and take from it when things feel too busy or when I our energy begins to wane. We get to be new and start new again but also implement all the lessons we learned in the past so we can forge ahead. Isn’t that exciting?” – Ruben Miranda-Juarez, FACES Albuquerque