Cohort 13 merged their interest in medical awareness, mental health and eating disorders into a project that would address many issues they believed are “undiscussable” among teen culture. With DiscussWell, their focus was to improve the mental and emotional health of teens by working to destigmatize topics that often go undiscussed and ultimately lead to unhealthy patterns.

The cohort’s interest in helping teens to “discuss the undiscussable” was born out of the cohort’s unique experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group more than any other in YPI history had to embrace transition in almost all areas of their lives shifting from in- person to virtual to hybrid. As they advanced their project, they explored the ways these transitions impacted the mental wellness of their peers as well as themselves.

To tackle this problem, the cohort created a five chapter curriculum for teens that explains ways to address mental stigmas, create psychologically safe environments, support the feelings of others and improve one’s own wellness. The curriculum, which consists of a series of videos and interactive activities, is adaptable to in- person or virtual learning.

While developing the curriculum, the students worked closely with experts at the Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK). Coordinator of MHAOK’s Youth Mental Health Program Dr. Cheryl Delk reflected on the partnership with the students. “The kids were amazing to work with - driven and determined, at the top of their game. Our role was guidance, suggestions and editing. It was truly student-led, and we were very mindful of that boundary - we followed their lead.”

As a result of the partnership, MHAOK agreed to use and distribute the DiscussWell curriculum as a resource in its programming. The curriculum has also been approved for widespread use by Tulsa Public Schools. Dr. Delk notes that it has also been a valuable resource for MHAOK: “[The DiscussWell curriculum] is particularly valuable because it bridges the gap between mental health and mental wellness... The materials are easy to share and flexible to use in multiple settings. It’s a great resource that my co-workers and I use regularly.”