Projects
Between the Bells
This year our helpers ran a day long event with our 9th grade class that was focused on having authentic conversations about mental health and how to help those around us in need. This was possible thanks to the non-profit organization To Write Love on her Arms. There were educational videos and presentations from natural helpers about things such as self care, there were bonding activities, surveys, and small group discussions including topics related to the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Learn more about the program here: https://twloha.com/highschool/
Animal Humane Fundraiser
This year we ran a fundraiser through our school's advisory groups to gather supplies for the Animal Humane New Mexico non-profit organization. Each grade was given a bag and a list of items that their grade was tasked with bringing in and donating to be collected and then counted for a competition between high school and middle school. This fundraiser helped to bring the community together for the very popular cause of helping shelter animals.
Learn more about Animal Humane: https://animalhumanenm.org/
Raising Awareness
We have been raising awareness for our group and for critical mental health resources such as crisis lines and counseling. We kept a bulletin board, put posters up around the school, and handed out stickers about mental health resources. We worked together to encourage discussions about mental health and promote self-care among the student body. Our bulletin board always has resources on it, such as the 988 crisis line and the ways that the community can get in contact with a natural helper. However, we have worked hard to make sure that our board has seasonal information, such as information about toxic vs. non-toxic relationships near Valentine's Day. We also maintained an Instagram account that functions both as a place where students can reach out to helpers, as well as another platform where we can provide resources and education for topics such as bullying, mental health, suicide prevention, etc.