Erin Barr
Clinical Coordinator of UpStreet
We are so happy to introduce you to part 2 of the wonderful group of Youth Advisors we have assembled here at UpStreet!
In part 1 you met Erin, Katrice, Sammie, Bridget, and Maia, Mikayla – If you missed it, click here!
Today we round off the team with Abby, Aidan, Asha and Maddie!
The Youth Advisory Board is a team of leaders recognized for their dedication to youth leadership, youth mental wellness, diversity, and accessible mental health care for all.
They each bring valuable youth perspectives to UpStreet’s work.
If you would like to join the team, email us at info@upstreetpgh.org and tell us about yourself and why you’d like to be apart of something great!
(in no particular order)
I’m Abby and I’m a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School. I love to read and write, as well as genealogy. As an individual who has struggled with anxiety and depression when younger, I want nothing more than to help others struggling. To have a walk-in service for teens is absolutely amazing and I am so glad to be part of this.
My name is Aidan and I am a junior at Taylor Allderdice. In my spare time I like to play soccer and go on trips with friends. Why I wanted to be part of the Youth Advisory Board is because so many teenagers struggle with mental health issues, and I want to help create a program that makes it easier for people to get help. Teen mental wellness is important because emotional health is just as important as physical health, and developing coping skills and other wellness strategies will help teenagers for the rest of their lives.
Hi! My name is Asha, I’m a sophomore at Pitt studying psychology and American Sign Language. I’m an artist in my free time–I love to paint, draw, and make earrings! I wanted to be part of UpStreet because of my own experiences with mental health treatment; I know how hard it is to know where to start and I feel that UpStreet is vital for helping teens with that new experience. Teen mental health is so important because of how many things happen in the day-to-day of a teenager. You’re developing your identity, discovering yourself, and finding your strengths and weaknesses all while navigating high school and a social life. It can be overwhelming, and having a resource to guide you through that is so necessary
Hi! My name’s Maddie, I am a junior at Brandeis University studying Anthropology and Public Health. In my spare time I like to read, learn languages (I currently study Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and sometimes Mandarin), pray and meditate, and study Jewish text. I wanted to be a part of UpStreet because of my passion for mental health advocacy, as well as being on my own mental health journeys that began as a teen. I currently help lead a Body Positive Initiative on my campus. I also am certified as a body positive facilitator and lead groups with students, while also working as a crisis counselor for the Crisis Text Line. As someone in recovery from an eating disorder and who struggles with anxiety and depression – and did throughout my teen years – I think teen mental wellness is critical in giving teens the tools to take care of themselves and their peers. This time includes a lot of changes and transformative experiences, and having the skills and spaces to navigate the mental challenges associated with this time can set a person up for long-term wellness and encourage work towards inner peace.
