Bedtime Stories and Big Dreams: Students Support Youth Mental Health

 

 Student volunteers raised over $28,000 for the new Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center opening this summer.

When Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) announced plans for a new Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center, the students of the President’s Junior Leadership Council (PJLC) didn’t hesitate to take action. Setting an ambitious goal of $25,000, these student leaders from eight area high schools launched a fundraising campaign that would ultimately exceed expectations—raising over $28,000 through grassroots efforts including bake sales and peer-to-peer outreach.

Horace Greely junior Uma Sharma, one of the campaign’s top fundraisers, was motivated by seeing her peers struggling during the early phases of the Covid pandemic. “At the time, I was in middle school and kids my age were struggling a lot. I had a friend who ended up in a psychiatric hospital because that was the only resource available,” she shared. “Seeing kids that young have to go through such a harsh, isolating experience—it was really tough to watch.”

The new center, opening this July, less than a mile from the hospital, will provide crisis access, stabilization, and ongoing care for children and teens—offering alternatives to Emergency Department visits and ensuring timely, appropriate treatment. 

“It's quite remarkable that a group of teenagers took it upon themselves during their busy sophomore, junior, and senior years to raise money for this cause,” said Amy Rosenfeld, MS, RDN, Senior Manager of Student Experiences and School Relationships at NWH. “These students deserve a lot of credit for not only repeatedly voicing their concerns about this need but then doing something about it – putting their boots on the ground to try to make it a reality.”

The new center comes at a crucial time when a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows nearly one in five children in the U.S. face mental health challenges like anxiety and depression—while wait times to see a mental health professional remain high. It is modeled on a successful Northwell Health program on Long Island that led to a 60% average reduction in emergency room visits for child and adolescent behavioral health concerns.

“The Center will provide fast access to mental health services for kids who need it right here in Northern Westchester—so kids can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, without financial worry,” said Grace O’Shaughnessy, LMSW, Senior Director of Community Health at NWH. “We’re closely partnering with local schools and community organizations to ensure no child falls through the cracks.”

Creating Change Through Storytelling

The fundraising campaign wasn’t the only way PJLC students tackled youth mental health this year. The council also created an illustrated children’s book promoting healthy sleep habits.

“Our students see sleep deprivation as a pervasive problem in teen culture, where being sleep-deprived is almost worn as a badge of honor,” explained Rosenfeld. “They wanted to inspire younger children to cultivate healthier sleep behaviors from a young age.”

Every year, the council chooses a public health and wellness issue affecting their peers and develops a plan to address it through education and awareness campaigns. Past projects have included a public service announcement about the dangers of vaping, social media campaigns about mental health, and posters on topics such as nutrition, healthy relationships, and anxiety.

This year’s efforts culminated in a creative superhero story that teaches elementary school children about good sleep hygiene through engaging characters who battle “sleep monsters” representing common bedtime challenges like blue light exposure, excess sugar, and racing thoughts. The book, titled Dream Beam Chronicles: Guardian of the Night, represents PJLC’s most ambitious project to date, bringing together all 50 students to collaborate on writing and illustration.

“I was one of the biggest advocates for choosing sleep as our topic, because I don’t get enough sleep and I know a lot of others with the same issues,” said John Jay senior Matt Denker. “And we thought a story would be a fun, digestible way to educate younger students.”

The council sought feedback on their book draft from child psychiatrists, community health educators, and other clinical staff at NWH. They also met with children’s author and New York Times bestseller Nick Bruel, who donated his time to advise the students on their writing ideas. But they were most invested in testing it with focus groups made up of their target audience—third to fifth graders. “So far, every child who has read the book has read it from cover to cover and couldn’t wait to read the whole thing,” said Rosenfeld. “Nothing’s better than a third grader telling you that you nailed it.” 

Denker hopes that by the time these young readers start to confront mounting academic stress in middle and high school, the lessons from this book will help keep them on track with healthy habits. “Sleep is more important than squeezing in an extra 30 minutes of studying,” said Denker, adding, “I probably should be taking some of these tips myself.”

This fall, PJLC students will conduct guest reading sessions in local elementary school classrooms and libraries and will participate in the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. The book will be available in print, digital, and potentially audiobook formats to reach as many young readers as possible.

PJLC student Austin Omin reads an excerpt from the Dream Beam Chronicles, a superhero novel that teaches children about the importance of healthy sleep habits.

Looking Ahead

With the book launch and behavioral health center opening on the horizon, these PJLC students are proving that when it comes to tackling youth mental health challenges, sometimes the most powerful solutions come from young people themselves. 

“Our students continuously impress me with their insights about the issues affecting their peers,” reflected Rosenfeld. “So much of the impetus for the wonderful new Behavioral Health Center came from our students speaking up about the need for better mental health support in this community.” 

Added Sharma, “Having this warm, inviting center so close to home, where kids can just walk in and get the help they need is monumental. It’s going to help so many kids.” 

Get Involved

Learn more about the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center opening this summer and make a gift to support access for children and families.

The PJLC welcomes opportunities to bring their sleep health book to local classrooms and community events this fall. Schools interested in hosting a guest reading session can contact NWHcommunityhealth@northwell.edu.

About PJLC

The President’s Junior Leadership Council engages exceptional high school students from eight area schools in public health and wellness initiatives. Members work collaboratively on projects targeting issues impacting their peers, learn from healthcare experts through a monthly speaker series, attend leadership workshops, and volunteer throughout the community.  Learn more about the NWH student programs.