Establish a Mental Health Awareness Club at Guilford High School

The Issue

Mental health awareness has never been more important than now. In addition to a long list of common stressors high school students have faced for generations, the current pandemic has heightened mental health challenges to sometimes unbearable levels for students nationwide.

We are seeking to establish a student-led Mental Health Awareness Club at Guilford High School, in Guilford, Connecticut, with the goal of reducing the stigma of mental illness, increasing mental health help-seeking and self-care among students, and fostering awareness, education, and student empowerment.

The foundation of our club is peer-to-peer communication and education. Our goal is to create an environment at Guilford High School where students can educate themselves and each other about mental health, learn about and use the mental health resources that are available to them, and start an ongoing, productive and supportive conversation with our peers about the lifelong importance of mental health care.

Our club is not meant to replace professional mental health services nor serve as a support group for peers in crisis. Our hope is that our Mental Health Awareness Club will create real, positive, and lasting change in the way our peers think about and care for their own mental health.

We have received the full support of Bring Change to Mind to start a mental health awareness club at GHS, effective immediately, if the administration will allow it. BC2M is a national nonprofit dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health and raising awareness, understanding & empathy. Started by actress Glenn Close, BC2M's high school program includes 320 schools nationwide.

We believe the Guilford High School administration should value our mental health just as highly as they value our academic and athletic achievements. If you agree, please show your support by signing our petition to establish a Mental Health Awareness Club at Guilford High School.