The Bring Change To Mind (BC2M) club at Chapel Hill High School has continued its work to combat the lingering mental health effects among students.
The club, which is almost entirely student-led, seeks to promote continued mental health support in the wake of the pandemic.
“There is still a mental health crisis in America, but we are seeing drastic improvements,” Imani Agee, guidance counselor and advisor to the BC2M club, said. “Increased social interactions are really signaling that the crisis is lessened.”
Recent projects include a local fundraiser and putting up posters around the school.
The posters provide a phone number for a crisis text-line and urge students in crisis to connect with one of the national organization’s crisis counselors.
The fundraiser, hosted by Italian Pizzeria III (IP3) earlier this spring, sought to generate funds for BC2M’s national mental health awareness campaigns. It was planned, scheduled and coordinated by students.
“We partnered with IP3 for a community-based fundraiser, where a portion of their profits went towards the club; the money was passed onto the national BC2M organization,” junior Sydney Lin, president and co-founder of the club, said.
Lin is also on the national BC2M student advisory board, which takes input from student leaders across the country.
“It’s great to be able to coordinate with other students to help spread awareness about mental health issues,” Lin said. “Our goal is to provide students with strategies and support, as well as education on how mental health issues can impact people daily.”
Student members say the club’s activities this year have been successful, garnering participation from non-member students.
“It’s really nice to have an easy, calming, and fun club to attend,” junior Gurmeher Kaur, the club’s secretary, said. “The added resources [that BC2M] offers to our club are also very helpful!”
The club, founded in 2020, has seen much growth, with this year’s membership at 22 students registered with the national organization and over 50 students in the club’s Google Classroom.
“It has been incredible to see the transformation of our club over the years, especially from virtual to in-person,” Lin said.
