Explore how StandOUT is making a difference in young people’s lives through research findings, youth feedback, and stories of growth.
Research shows that youth in leadership roles at StandOUT experienced improvements in emotional wellbeing, including fewer anxiety and depression symptoms.
StandOUT’s peer-mentors describe growing in confidence and communication as they learn to guide younger youth, putting our mission of developing leaders into practice.
Young people describe StandOUT as a community where they feel welcomed, supported, and comfortable opening up to mentors. Relationships are central to our approach to discipleship.
The impact of mentorship can reach beyond program time. One StandOUT mentee shared how support from his mentor helped him argue less with his siblings, putting care for others into practice at home.
Dr. Ogechi “Cynthia” Onyeka, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, collaborates with StandOUT founder Andrea Gonzales, MPA, to study the relationship between peer mentorship and youth mental health.
Their co-authored report, Standing Up for Mental Health, reflects this ongoing research collaboration. Dr. Onyeka also serves on StandOUT’s board, bringing her research expertise to our efforts to understand youth experiences and strengthen our programming.
Conducted at StandOUT from May through August 2025, the study followed participants in a structured peer-mentoring program.
Youth showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, withdrawal, and aggressive behavior.
At StandOUT, young people have opportunities to receive mentorship and become peer-mentors themselves. Research on our peer mentoring program shows that the young people supporting others also experienced improvements in their own emotional wellbeing.
Peer mentors showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, withdrawal, and aggressive behavior from the beginning to the end of the program.
Those who felt more confident in their training also reported greater confidence in managing their own mental health and accessing support.
Among mentees, greater attendance was associated with fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at the end of the program.
Together, these findings highlight the importance of attending to the wellbeing of both peer-mentors and mentees as we develop young leaders.
Source: Onyeka & Gonzales, Standing Up for Mental Health Impact Report, results and conclusions, pp. 11–13. Findings concern the specific 2025 intervention.
StandOUT’s vision is to develop young leaders who follow Christ, love their neighbors, and serve their communities. Peer-mentorship gives young people a practical opportunity to put leadership into action by supporting someone younger.
Feedback from our peer mentors describes growth in confidence and communication as they learned to guide, encourage, and build relationships with their mentees.
Their experiences show what leadership development can look like in everyday interactions: learning to listen, starting meaningful conversations, and becoming someone another young person can turn to.
“It improved me as a person and gave me the confidence I felt like I needed.”
ALYSSA · PEER MENTOR
These experiences reflect an important part of StandOUT’s approach: young people have opportunities to grow through serving others. Peer-mentorship becomes a place to practice the care and responsibility that leadership requires.
Sources: 2025 participant feedback, Youth Quotes; Onyeka & Gonzales, report p. 10. Quotes are excerpts.
Relationships are central to StandOUT’s approach to mentorship and life-on-life discipleship. Youth feedback describes a community where young people connect with others, build trust, and feel comfortable talking with their mentors.
Participants described relationships that went beyond completing program activities. Mentees spoke about having someone they could talk to, while mentors described meaningful connections and mutual encouragement.
“StandOUT was so nice and helpful to me, and my relationship with my mentor made me feel really good because he was helpful and I can really talk to him. I thought the mental health part was very helpful”
DEON · MENTEE
In StandOUT’s discipleship report, 67% of youth identified fellowship, social interaction, and the supportive environment as their favorite part of the program. These responses show how much young people value the relationships they are building.
StandOUT’s 2025 Discipleship Impact/Progress Report and participant feedback from the 2025 peer mentoring program.
StandOUT encourages young people to practice loving their neighbors in everyday life, including at home. Kendrick’s experience offers a personal example of how conversations with a mentor can connect to relationships with siblings.
“StandOUT helped me change my fear of being nervous and made me comfortable around my mentor. Being in the group and doing activities was very welcoming and he helped me stop arguing with my siblings.”
KENDRICK · MENTEE
Kendrick described becoming more comfortable talking with his mentor and shared that his mentor’s support helped him argue less with his siblings.
His story brings a practical dimension to mentorship: a young person talking through challenges with someone he trusts and applying that support in his daily relationships.
For StandOUT, learning to care for others includes the relationships young people already have. Kendrick’s account illustrates how mentorship can connect with that goal beyond program time.
Sources: 2025 participant feedback, Youth Quotes; Onyeka & Gonzales, report pp. 4–6.