It was earlier this year that a group of Guilford High School (GHS) students were informed that their push to form a mental health club—something by students, for students that could help address a growing crisis in mental health among teens—would not be approved by administrators.

Following this, the three students at the core of the club, Addie Kenney, Kelsey Lynch, and Abby Moore, took their concerns out into the community, with a petition, media interviews, and lobbying of district administrators. A few weeks later, the students announced the Mental Health Awareness Alliance will in fact go forward, bolstered by outside support and dedicated to sparking conversation and elevating mental health concerns in the school.

“We knew what we were fighting for and we knew our exact goal, and we knew we could not give up something which we saw as essential for [GHS],” Lynch wrote in an email to the Courier.

After the schools expressed concern that an effective mental health club would require more resources and staffing, the club leaders made contact with an organization called Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit founded by actress Glenn Close that works nationally on issues of mental health awareness.

Additionally, the club has an advisor from Guilford Youth & Family Services who will be working with it, and will hopefully be a partner in new initiatives going forward, according to Moore.

Having found a solution to the technical and practical issues around launching the club, Lynch said that they hope to “see students more open to reaching out and asking for help, as well as being more aware of the resources offered at GHS” as a sign that they are accomplishing their mission, using peer advocacy and empathy that might be more difficult for adults.

“Also, having a mental health alliance as a whole starts the conversation in general, and we already know that other schools on the shoreline heard about our idea and are trying to also get mental health awareness organizations to provide for their school,” Lynch added.

Being able to directly reach other teens was one of the most important aspects of the club, according to Kenney, with students both having a voice in their own mental health struggles as well as able to more effectively reach their peers. The club will help facilitate outreach and speakers, Lynch said, and focus on making sure students feel comfortable speaking about their struggles.

“Mental health is so clearly stigmatized, to the point where kids are...too shy to go to the outlets our schools offer,” Lynch said.

Launching into that work within the schools will be the primary aim of the club early on, but it has also already begun to bring awareness outside the school. Kenney said that in a more lighthearted initiative, Ashley’s Ice Cream will hold a “create a flavor” contest during May, which is Mental Health Awareness month.

“The winning flavor will be chosen and sold at Ashley’s for partial profits towards the Mental Health Awareness Alliance,” Kenney wrote. “Extra points toward anyone who can tie their flavor creation to mental health!”

More information can be found about the Mental Health Awareness Alliance on its Instagram page, @ghsmentalhealthawareness.