On February 27, 2025, teen leaders from the Zero Reasons Why campaign joined hundreds of other Kansas students, advocates, and mental health experts for Prevention Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. Organized by PreventionWorKS and the Kansas Prevention Collaborative, Prevention Advocacy Day is an annual event that brings young people and adults together to build a healthier Kansas through advocacy and connection. The event is designed to foster dialogue, build connections and unite the state’s efforts to normalize seeking support by promoting healing, hope, and prevention strategies.
Zero Reasons Why’s group of 29 students, 3 school club sponsors, and 3 Campaign staff members started the day at the Kansas Health Institute, where we learned how to effectively share our stories and engage in meaningful conversations with legislators. Representative Silas Miller joined our students for a Q&A session, providing insight into the legislative process and the importance of advocacy.
At the Capitol, Zero Reasons Why had the honor of being recognized on both the Kansas House of Representatives and Kansas Senate floors for our efforts in fostering mental health awareness and advocacy in schools and communities throughout the state. Several of our teen leaders were invited to the floor, where Representative Mari-Lynn Poskin acknowledged our group in the House, and Senator Dinah Sykes recognized us in the Senate. These recognitions reinforce our commitment to our cause and the importance of amplifying teen voices in the conversation surrounding mental health. We were grateful to receive these honors.
A standout moment of the day was a panel discussion featuring three of our Teen Council members—Nevaeh, Kate, and Trisha—who spoke alongside peers from Upstream Kansas, an initiative of CADCA, supported by the Kansas Department of Disability Services. Together, they shared powerful perspectives on mental health advocacy, suicide prevention, and substance use prevention, reinforcing the need for proactive policies and community support. After the panel, we held 11 meetings with different legislators from across the state, ensuring that teen voices were heard on critical issues affecting mental health and prevention efforts.
Zero Reasons Why Campaign Manager, Georgie Mings, reflected on the experience and shared, “These teens showed up prepared, passionate, and ready to demand real change in mental health and suicide prevention policies. The next generation of advocates is here, and they’re just getting started.”
Prevention Advocacy Day was an inspiring opportunity for young leaders to make an impact, connect with lawmakers, and continue driving change for better mental health policies in the state of Kansas and beyond. We’re grateful to those who are working to make a difference for mental health, including PreventionWorksKS and the Kansas Prevention Collaborative for making this impactful day possible. We’re feeling ready and inspired to keep moving forward with the important work of removing the stigma of mental health and preventing teen suicide.
