Creators' Collective

Hear/SAY

Hear/SAY is the BHT Impact Youth & Family Creators' Collaborative, a paid program for youth and young adults ages 13–26, as well as parents and caregivers, that centers lived experience in the co-creation of behavioral health solutions.

In legal terms, hearsay is an out-of-court testimony offered to prove the truth. It is typically dismissed not because it lacks truth, but because the person who made the statement isn't in the room to be heard. We borrowed that idea intentionally. Hear/SAY is the infrastructure that puts youth and family perspectives in the rooms where innovators are designing and refining solutions that impact youth.

For youth and families, Hear/SAY is an intentional seat at the table to share your insights, work, and ideas on the kind of solutions that you and your communities need for better mental and behavioral health.

For innovators, Hear/SAY is the bridge between what youth and families are actually living and what you are passionate about getting right.

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Published Work

Beyond the Counseling Office: What It Actually Takes to See the Whole Child

Written by: Hear/SAY contributor Megan DiStefano As a school counselor, I spend my days switching between counselor, coach, event planner, crisis responder, family liaison, snack distributor, hygiene closet manager, community resource finder, and occasional detective trying to figure out who started the mysterious rumor spreading across seventh grade. It's chaotic, exhausting, and the most rewarding job I've ever had. It's also given me a front-row seat to what youth mental h

Please Take My Advice: A Reflection on the Experience of Youth Advising Spaces

Written by: Hear/SAY contributor Margaret Garcia -“ I think my idea really reflects what we should change in order to address more youth issues.” -“Great, thank you, we will take it into consideration.” The same phrases have been repeated to me for the past few years in this space, and it is met with the continued dismissal of my peers’ and my perspectives. They take the advice, say it will be considered, then never take steps to include or consult further. These leaders sti

The Youth Mental Health Solutions That Survived Contact With Reality

Written by: Hear/SAY contributor Meenakshi Kothari Disclosure: BHT Impact and Moore Impact have no financial relationships with, and do not commercially endorse, any tools or organizations listed herein. This list reflects independent editorial judgment for educational purposes. Every year, thousands of youth mental health programs, apps, interventions, and initiatives are launched with good intentions. Yet only a handful truly sustain over time and reach the people they were

Where the Light Gets In: What Peer Support Taught Me About Healing, Community Care, and Youth Agency

Written by: Hear/SAY contributor Blessing Adams. As a person living with anxiety, overthinking is a fixed staple. I can not imagine my life without it. Picture banana pudding without vanilla wafers or Divergent without Tobias; it just doesn’t work. Lately, though, I am channeling all the tips I see on social media from gurus and trying to embrace balance. Writing this is my first attempt at quieting all the jumbled-up thoughts in my head. The first time I knew there was a re

The Dream House

Created by: Hear/SAY contributor Tia Sky. Artist Statement: I created this piece during a course I took on the Sociology of Homelessness, while thinking about all the things that create a true, accessible home or community space for all from an LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent perspective. There are so many dimensions outside of simply putting a roof over one's head that contribute to sustained success and safety. Read more on measuring social determinants of youth mental health her

Prescribed Pride

Written by: Hear/SAY contributor Maeve Jillian King (they/them), a graduate student in an MSW program, having earned a master's in social sciences and a bachelor's in psychology. I was honored to attend my local Lavender Graduation as I completed my master's degree this May. I was able to connect with my fellow GSA members, and I was relieved to be at graduation after collective action was demanded at our intolerant university. I also reconnected with other community members

Before You Build a Youth Mental Health Solution, Understand Healing Isn’t a Straight Line

When people think about youth mental health, they often start with a very broad and simplistic question: “How can we get more young people to seek help?” This is indubitably an important question to ask, but I think there is a more fundamental one that anyone designing a youth mental health solution must ask first: “What happens after a young person reaches out for help?” As a person with lived experience of complex trauma, I have experienced the mental healthcare system fir

Program Tracks

Special Projects

As part of the Collective, you will get access to special co-design projects with innovators and organizations across the country

We invite you to apply because you want to be part of the decision making for solutions that impact you.

Contributing Writers

Flexible entry point to share your voice through a single article or series of articles

We invite you to apply because you have insights to share about behavioral health, and you don't need to wait for the perfect moment to speak up.

Creative and Visual

Designs, illustrations, multi-media content and more to bring youth perspectives to life

We invite you to apply because you see behavioral health stories, moments, and the beauty that exists even in the hardest moments differently.

Content Reviewers

Work closely with BHT Impact staff to shape content prior to publishing

We invite you to apply because you understand that words can cause pain, promote healing, and inspire change.