Mental health ambassadors launch green bandana campaign

Students who roam the halls of GHS, may wonder why so many people have green bandanas tied to their backpacks. The green bandanas are a part of a new campaign created by the GHS Mental Health Ambassadors.

The Mental Health Ambassadors group was created last year by its advisors Amy Kamm, Director of Mental Health and Social-Emotional Learning, and GHS health teacher Rosa Goulart. The goal of the group is to empower students to offer emotional support to their peers, and destigmatize mental health issues.

“We selected a group of students who represented a great diversity throughout our school. We had some athletes, theatre kids, honors kids,” Goulart said. “We wanted to make sure our student body was represented equally.” 

Students who were selected went through a seventy five hour training course called Gathering and Inspiring Future Talent (GIFT).

After completing the training, the next step was to apply the skills to the school community.

“We took it little by little doing small things,” GHS junior Kyia Karvelas said. “Like decorating the board outside of Ms. Goulart’s room, and holding meetings to discuss what else we could do.”

The Mental Health Ambassadors have recently started their latest and first campaign called the green bandana campaign. 

“After the unexpected and heart-wrenching deaths of two students it seemed necessary to put something into effect at the high school,” Karvelas said. “Everyone needs to know that there is always support for them here, it is a way to show that no one has to struggle alone.”

Each bandana comes with a pledge card that states what the bandana means, along with a list of resources. By having the green bandana visible students make a pledge to “be a trusted friend to a struggling peer, commit to destigmatize mental health challenges, get a friend in need to a trusted adult, and demonstrate that no one else needs to struggle alone,” the pledge card reads.  

“Since it started the green bandana campaign and the mental health ambassador program has become a huge success,” Karvelas said. “We gave out all of the 250 bandanas that we originally ordered and there is another shipment on the way.” 

Resources: 

North Shore Emergency Services: 978-744-1585

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-TALK (8255)

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+) 1-800-4-U-TREVOR 

Crisis Text Line (Any crisis): Text HOME to 741741