Gallery - Youth Mental Health Advocacy Day
Students from across the state visited the State Capitol for Youth Mental Health Advocacy Day, recognized on February 10th, 2026. Many of the students are part of Y-LINK (Youth Leaders in Kansas) - a program that helps youth develop community awareness and leadership skills during their formative years.
During the event students were able to connect with local policy makers about issues happening in their communities, including many around substance misuse and prevention. In particular, they raised concern about a bill that required schools to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services, as it could be an obstacle for students seeking help.
