It should come as no secret to educators that it’s much easier to get students to listen to each other than to listen to an authority figure. Studies have shown that youth are more likely to be receptive to conversations around mental health if they are delivered by someone their age. Booking a Jack Talk — an inspirational and educational talk delivered by youth Speakers who are trained to speak to their peers about mental health in a way that destigmatizes mental health — can be an excellent way to meet students where they’re at. 

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We have a selection of Talk delivery methods and Speakers from across the country who address different mental health topics through personal stories, education, audience engagement and self-care strategies. Through discussion with one of our coordinators, we can help educators find the right Talk and Speaker for their classroom.

Our free, digital course, the Be There Certificate, created in partnership with Born This Way Foundation, is an excellent activity to complete as a class or independently. In under two hours, students will learn Be There’s 5 Golden Rules — a simple but actionable framework teaching youth how to recognize when their peers might be struggling with their mental health, and learn their role in supporting that person and connect them to the help they need. 

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The Be There Certificate is self-paced and interactive, engaging a variety of different learning styles. Jack.org provides an introductory slide deck for educators interested in introducing this material to their students, a suggested lesson plan, as well extension activities to engage with the material further on our edHUB. For more information, take a look at the Be There Educators Guide, or visit edHUB.