I struggled with mental health in my teen years. I grew up in a place where I thought that I could not talk about my struggles without feeling ashamed or being pitied. Growing up, suicide prevention was close to my heart because of my own suicidality. My high school was not a place where mental health was discussed, and suicide prevention efforts did not involve students.
With the support of adults who understood the importance of preventing suicide in school, a group of my classmates and I decided to do something positive for the community.
We started a suicide prevention club that was modeled after the typical HS clubs. Our goal was to open the conversation about suicide prevention and to spread positive messages to all students, especially those who felt alone in their struggles.
Once a month, we would meet before school to talk about ways to bring awareness to suicide prevention. Our first campaign involved writing positive gender-neutral messages such as “You are worthy” or “You got this” on Post-its. We placed the Post-its in bathroom mirrors and locker rooms.
For our second campaign we cut out hand shaped prints and wrote the name of each student in the school on them. The collection of handprints covered several walls, a life-affirming makeshift mural.
Volunteering in high school helped me gain skills that I can use now at work. I learned project management and practiced creative thinking and leadership. The most important part of my experience was the relief I felt. Learning how to deal with suicidal thoughts, connecting with others, and being kind to myself made me a healthier teenager and helped me feel more stable as an adult. I was able to feel confident in my skills, notice when I or others were struggling, and build a strong sense of community.
Despite leaving my hometown and moving to Philadelphia to attend college and develop my professional career, I continue to volunteer in suicide prevention organizations. Now, I focus on the new generation of youth involved in suicide prevention clubs – leading with kindness, bringing awareness to mental health and suicide, and working in a community-oriented lens.
As an adult, I find my feet are better planted and my connections are richer because of my experience with volunteering in suicide prevention awareness at my high school.
