High school students across the state are using social media in an effort to support their peers as part of a suicide prevention and awareness campaign organized by Teen Lifeline and the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club.
The campaign is a series of professionally produced public service announcements that will air in September as part of Suicide Awareness Month. Students featured consist of nineteen football players and one cheerleader, who either volunteered for the campaign or were nominated. The public service announcements will be broadcast on social media belonging to the schools, sports teams and students involved.
“These students are the leaders on their campuses,” Nikki Kontz, Teen Lifeline clinical director, said. “Talking about mental health, especially on a peer-to-peer level, is something that has become more and more relevant and something we really want to destigmatize.”
