Interested in advocating for the mental health of those around you? The Mental Health Ambassadors club is welcoming new members.
The club has thirty-six members but is always open and looking for new people to join. Members are offered training designed specifically to help their classmates recognize mental health challenges around them.
One training each member had to go through was suicide prevention called QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer.)
“After COVID, we realized that a lot of mental health challenges seemed to be around and we needed to partner with the youth in the community to take a stand against mental health,” said Club advisor and Director of Mental Health and Social-Emotional Learning Amy Kamm. “The club’s point is to partner with youth voices to bring awareness and to send a message that no one struggles alone.”
Last year, the group focused heavily on the mental health and well being of athletes. They organized events like Teams for Green, during which some athletic teams took pictures with green sweatbands and headbands to signify unity between the teams to address and support mental health.
“It is a great group of kids to be around,” said Gloucester High School senior Olivia Testaverde “I love this club because I am able to educate my peers, and being de-stigmatize mental health is a privilege.”
Last year, the club brought the fifth graders to see the first Inside Out at the Gloucester Cinema, where they had a conversation about emotions and expressions. This year the club hopes to bring the same group of students to see Inside Out 2.
One big project the club has taken part in is the Green Bandana Project. The Green Bandana project aims to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide in the younger generations. The bandana is a symbol to those who may be struggling to know that they are not alone and that there are people they can talk to including many students, teachers, and other staff members.
The club meets most Wednesdays during homerooms and after school when planning an event. They use Google Classroom to keep communication open. If interested in joining, contact:
Amy Kamm: [email protected]
Rosa Goulart: [email protected]
