Creating a safe place for students to talk about mental health: teen starts first Work2BeWell mental health club in Washington

Addy of Kent, Washington, helped bring Work2BeWell to her high school after struggling on her own with mental health challenges.

Vivek Murthy, M.D., the 19th and 21st U.S. Surgeon General, described youth mental health needs as “the defining public health crisis of our time” in 2023. That year, Addison, now a senior in high school, experienced her own bout with mental health challenges.

“Back in middle school and as I entered high school, I went through my own struggles with mental health and realized how important it is to have a community and a safe space to talk about it—especially for young people,” said Addison, student at Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington, and a member of Work2BeWell’s National Student Advisory Council.

W2BW is a teen-led mental health and wellness program focused on providing mental health resources for teens, educators, and communities, and Addy is the founder of the first mental health club at her school and the first W2BW student club in Washington.

“I joined W2BW my junior year and was introduced to many resources, including their club starter guide. That led me to create the first W2BW club in the state,” she added.

“In just two years, we’ve made a real impact by introducing Work2BeWell resources to school staff and teachers, organizing a slime fundraiser to support our initiatives – while giving students a fun way to ease test anxiety – and building a community where students consistently show up and engage.”

Teen-led mental health clubs established across the U.S.

The W2BW clubs are student-led with an adult advisor providing support and guidance. Using the W2BW club starter guide, students across the United States have launched 70 mental health clubs at high schools stretching geographies from Washington state to Maine.

In addition to providing toolkits for students to establish mental health clubs, W2BW also provides free mental health curricular, resources and tools to support students, parents and educators addressing topics ranging from mental wellness and anxiety to suicide prevention, loss and grief. These resources are available in Spanish and Vietnamese translations.

“I’ve witnessed a lot of growth in myself and our school community from just two years of being involved in W2BW, and I am forever grateful I am able to be a part of it.”