The Process
Research and Gather
Using the links provided in the resource guide, RAISEyouth will gather a library of facts about:
- Healthy life hacks (Diet, exercise, reading, pursuing hobbies)
- Mindfulness benefits
- Immediate consequences of substance abuse
- Signs/statistics of mental illness
- Where to get help
Project Ideas
Art as Activism
Let’s use the transformational power of art to bring awareness and share the truth! Partner with art classes. Provide them with a list of the benefits of mindfulness. Have them create a series of posters. Find prominent places around the school to post them.
Announce the Positive
Use your morning announcements as a platform to broadcast hope, positive energy, and healthy life hacks. Start a series of morning announcements or skits that share healthy life hacks. Designate a special day like, “Mindful Mondays,” or Thoughtful Thursdays.” Post the healthy life hack in the same spot every week.
Periodic Table of Consequence
(Focus on informing, not frightening. Research shows scare tactics do not work!) Use a familiar symbol and give it new life-saving meaning. Modeling the periodic table of elements creates a large display. Use the immediate consequences list you created and color code the chart based on the type of substances. This same idea can be used with different kinds of mental illness. Offer emergency hotline phone numbers and local resources.
Project Resource Guide
Research and Gather
NIDA for Teens:
Click here for drug facts
NAMI:
Click here to learn more about mental health
Tips on Mindfulness:
Click here to learn about being mindful
Click to read advice from mindful.org