[GREENSBORO, N.C., October 17, 2025] On October 11-12,teensfrom across North Carolina—and right here in Greensboro—gathered at the YMCA of Greensboro’s Camp Weaver to launch the YMCA’s inaugural NC State Teen Mental Health Advisory Council (TMAC).
The council is comprisedof 31 high school students, including several from Greensboro and surrounding Guilford County communities. Their mission: to foster a supportive community where teens thrive mentally, emotionally and socially. Through collaboration, advocacy and education, they aim to build a foundation that promotes mental wellbeing, resilience and inclusivity for all teens in North Carolina.
“This started right here in Greensboro,” said Eric Graves, Association Teen Director for the YMCA of Greensboro (pictured speaking in the first photo above).“After piloting a local teen mental health council last year, we saw the impact of creating space for teens to share their experiences, support one another and advocate at the local level for mental health support. We saw an opportunity to expand this work statewide.”
The Greensboro Y hosted the council’s first official gathering, which included team–buildingactivities at the camp’s low ropes course, education and planning for the year ahead. The teens will elect their peers in leadership roles and form a marketing committee and a service committee.The TMAC will meet virtually twice a month and in person again in May 2026 when the teens bring their policy recommendations to their state legislators, and they will plan local training and events as part of their charter.
“Programs like this make you remember that you’re still a kid, and I mean that is the most positive way. This weekend I felt free from judgment and like I was with people that really care about me,” said Shane Grafton, a 10th grader serving on the council.Carrie Watkins, MSW, LCSWA, a counselor at Family Solutions of the Triad, serves as an advisor to the group and will provide the teens with mental health education and connections to local resources in their own communities.
The YMCA of Greensboro, along with other YMCAs in the state, has funding fromstate legislature via theNC Alliance of YMCAs to incorporate resilience-building skills and strategies to support teens’ well-being and to normalize conversations around mental health YMCAs have developed a variety of approaches, programs and events for teens as a result.
“The Mental health of teens in our state is a critical issue,” said Rhonda Anderson, President and CEOof the YMCA of Greensboro. “This council is about more than awareness—it’s about action. By giving teens tools and opportunities to lead, we’re creating a future where mental well-being is prioritized, stigma is reduced, and every teen knows they matter.”
About the YMCA and the NC Alliance of YMCAs
The YMCA of Greensboro is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The organization was founded in 1889 with a mission to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Through its seven branches and YMCA Camp Weaver, the YMCA of Greensboro is strengthening the foundations of the community through its wide range of programs and services for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. For more information on the YMCA of Greensboro, visit ymcagreensboro.org.
The NC Alliance of YMCAs is an independent 501(C)3 nonprofit corporation supporting 28 independent YMCA associations with more than 120 facilities in North Carolina. The Alliance’s purpose is to build the capacity of all the state’s YMCAs, foster collaboration on statewide initiatives through effective partnerships, and advocate on behalf of the YMCA’s mission and cause with elected officials and stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels. For more information, please visit ncymcas.org.
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