The Youth Committee for Mental Health (YCMH) is a collective of youth from across all regions of Colorado working together to advocate for youth in spaces where there has been a lack of youth participation. YCMH is youth led, adult supported. The focus of the committee is to advise PCMH and provide input as we develop and execute key initiatives related to youth mental health. Learn more about our inspiring YCMH members below.
Youth Committee for Mental Health (YCMH)
Meet our YCMH members
Stacey is currently in high school and hopes to graduate with her associate's degree. She is a 2nd generation immigrant from Togo who enjoys trying out new hairstyles, watching anime, and playing sports.
Claire (she/her) is a sophomore at Erie High School who enjoys acting, writing music, and spending time with her loved ones. She joined the YCMH because she’s experienced firsthand how mental health can impact one’s life through personal experience, close family members, and close friends. She wants to use her past experience to spread awareness about the impact & importance of mental health. In the future, she hopes to go to NYU in New York City or Emerson College in Boston to study either law, performing arts, or social work.
Rachael Mwamachi is a student at DMLK High School. Her ambition is to work as a nurse practitioner in labor and delivery one day. She joined YCMH to learn more about mental health and the services available in Colorado, as well as to express her thoughts on what needs to happen in the mental health field. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and playing the violin.
Trinity Roof (she/her) is a high school student with dreams of making the world a better place. Though her experience with mental health is fairly new, she has had experience with many leadership groups in her community. She sees YCMH as a growing way to expand the conversations on mental health, and to change the negative stigma on mental health.
Jacob (he/him) is a student-athlete at Centennial High School in Pueblo, Colorado. Jacob participates in National Honor Society, varsity tennis, sources of strength, FBLA, and various other clubs offered by his school. Jacob is a two-term committee member of YCMH, and his hope for YCMH is to spread awareness and advocate for youth mental health and teens in need of support in communities throughout Colorado. Jacob enjoys being outside and spending time with family and friends.
Vanessa Tao (she/her) is a junior at Columbine High School who hopes to create meaningful change for youth across Colorado. She has worked with many organizations, including Senator Lisa Cutter, Great Education Colorado, and One Chance to Grow Up in order to protect adolescents and provide them with more opportunities. At her school, she contributes to the community through service as president of Key Club and vice president of Environmental Club. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going to the gym. Her goal at YCMH is to educate and inform both youth and parents across Colorado to give a voice to those who may be struggling.
Auburne Mauger (she/her) lives in Littleton, Colorado, and represents Arapahoe County on the YCMH. She is currently a Freshman at STEM School Highlands Ranch and is interested in going into the medical field. Auburne believes that mental health, especially that of youths, is often a topic unexplored within the healthcare field and hopes to bring more attention to teen mental health through the YCMH. As a hobby, Auburne loves to play volleyball and enjoys all genres of books.
Chanelle Jones Ahmed(she/her) lives in the Arapahoe district. Chanelle is currently in her first year of college attending Community College of Aurora. She plans to to become a sonographer. Outside of college, she is apart of YAASPA, and the Northwest Aurora Food Policy Council. Chanelle has interned at Stride Community Health Center and currently interning at Salud Family Health. During her free time, she likes to hike and spend time in nature:) She is so excited and grateful to be apart of PCMH’s journey;)
Aditi (she/her) is a cheerleader at Niwot High School who enjoys writing poetry and crocheting. She hopes to attend medical school in the future and is dedicated to help others due to empathy from her own firsthand experiences on how mental health can affect relationships and other aspects of life. Through YCMH, she hopes to be able to personally educate youth in her community and offer mental health services to those who may need them.
Cydnee Taylor (she/her) is currently a student-athlete at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs. While at Rampart Cydnee has participated in a variety of activities. To include, Varsity Track and Field, and Key Club. Outside of school Cydnee is an avid volunteer at places such as Wild Blue Cats, Care and Share, Food Bank of the Rockies, and the Humane Society. Cydnee plans to attend college, then aspires to move onto medical school with a specialty in psychiatry. Her ultimate career goal is to join the AirForce as a military psychiatrist. Her hope through participating in the YCMH program is to enlighten, and spread awareness regarding mental health and mitigate the stigma.
Daja Woods is a student attending PCA for her 8th-grade year. She wants to help her community with their mental health instead of using drugs and alcohol to help. She wants to help her community by reaching out to them and having a small group to talk about what else they could do to help themselves.
Megan is a senior at Windsor High School in Northern Colorado. Megan has been on the YCMH Advisory Committee since January 2022 and has previously done work in fundraising for Second Wind Fund, a Colorado adolescent mental health charity, and has spoken to freshman health classes at her school about suicide prevention and mental health stigmas. Megan hopes to go to college for a law degree and continue working to reduce the stigmas surrounding mental health. During her free time, Megan enjoys swimming for her club team and baking.
Michaela resides in the South Denver area and is a born and raised Colorado native. She is a freshman college student at Advanced Edu, inspired to earn a bachelor's in business or human services. She is an energetic, empathetic, and passionate young adult. Michaela has been a part of organizations like Project Foster Power, which brings power to youth voices through lived experience. She worked on creating new policies and helping pass new bills that help support systematic change for foster youth. She hopes to contribute lived experience and wisdom in hopes to create positive change in the mental health system in Colorado. Michaela loves writing and is working towards writing a memoir based on her lived experience and personal story. Her favorite way to spend her free time is with her dog, practicing yoga, and enjoying nature.
Oliver (they/them) currently represents Broomfield, CO. They are currently attending high school at BHS (Broomfield High School) where they work with their peers to create a safe and more inclusive environment for others. They have worked with groups such as No Place for Hate, Student Voice and Key Club, to structure a more equitable community within their school. During their time at YCMH they aim to improve awareness of mental health among teenagers, administrators and primary health providers. In their free time, they enjoy playing for their high school volleyball team, exploring the beautiful wonders of Colorado and its numerous national parks and mountains
Kaitlyn is a teen mental health advocate in Loveland Colorado. She testified before the state legislature on a mental health access bill. She co-authored the Teen Lifestyle Medicine book and designed its accompanying slides. She co-presented live and online presentations for the National Alliance of Youth Sports conference. She has served on mental health boards, has been interviewed for Dr. Duckworth’s mental health book, Dr. Hallowell’s mental health podcast, local papers and news stations on mental health topics. In her free time, she enjoys talking with friends, practicing circus tricks on her aerial silks, and making fidget toys and earrings.
Noah is in middle school he goes to middle school at iacs, (independence academy charter school) he lives in grand junction Colorado Noah's full name is Noah Matern he is kid that loves to have friends and does not like to have a sad group some of his achievements is he want to Disney world and a fun fact is that he has epilepsy

Want to get involved?
We want to hear your voice! Each summer, there is a new opportunity to apply to join the Youth Committee on Mental Health. If you’d like to get involved, send us an email and we’ll inform you as soon as we’re accepting new applications.