Holding Meetings

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Group Norms

Group norms are a must have! Why? They set the tone for conversations and help create a caring and collaborative space for everyone to share their thoughts. Group norms are statements of shared expectations, values, and beliefs that serve as guides for conversation and activities. A few potential norms to consider include:

Speak from the "I" perspective.
Assume that everyone is doing the best they can.
Mental wellness is a personal journey and there are many paths to recovery.

Once they are established, ensure that your Group Norms are visible and accessible during meetings. Use them as a guide when address certain topics or issues. You might consider having members sign their names to the group norms. If anonymity is a concern, members can use their "Hollywood" names: first name=name of their first pet; last name=name of the first street they lived on). This way members can formalize their commitment to the club.

Clubs are not...

Be clear that the group is not a group therapy session or a support group for those who are struggling. While these are both wonderful resources, students should be referred to appropriate community resources when they are struggling. This is where your faculty advisor can step in. A good advisor will be willing to talk to members privately after meetings in the event issues arise or members have personal questions/problems they need to discuss. Ideally, they will have a list of local resources to refer to when needed.

While it's okay for members to talk about their own challenges and they are welcome to share things like their diagnosis and how they are feeling, a school club is not a means for coping or individual support.

Possible Activities

Research which books there are in the library that address mental health. Do members want to read them and write reviews for other students? Find other books and ask the librarian to purchase them? (or find other ways to bring these books to their school)
Create a list of movies they think do a good job representing mental health challenges and sharing them with students.
Contact local peer support resources like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and set up presentations for students, parents, and/or teachers.
Make posters with a message members want to share about mental health, substance use disorders, or related topics.
Find a public campaign that is already in existence and bring it to your school.
Ensure there is good information available for people to find resources during school events
Invite a therapist to come and speak at a club meeting.
Share what it is like to participate in therapy in some sort of educational, destigmatizing way.
Publish a list of public figures who also struggle with behavioral health challenges. Put it in the school newspaper.
Do presentations in other classes during the school year
Put together an assembly.
Learn about the different national recognition days and bringing them to light for their community (for example World Bipolar Day is celebrated each year on March 30th)
Put messages up on the reader board for their school or include them in the morning announcements. (Monday mental health tips)
Teach or promote skills to decrease stress
Test out and promote a mental health app. (Headspace; What’s up; Calm Harm; Clear Fear; My strength; tapping solutions; I am sober; Smiling mind)
Send care packages to hospitals or those who are at an in-patient unit.
Discuss when people label themselves with a MH diagnosis, especially when they don’t really fit the criteria. What happens when people make light of a diagnosis that someone near them may actually have? “oh, I’m so OCD”
Create a “Stigma Wall”: On a wall that is central and visible, create a very large sign saying, "Stigma Hurts." Have the sign surrounded by hurtful words such as "crazy" and "psycho" with a thick line crossing them out—this will be the focal point for awareness. Underneath this, the definition of stigma. Beneath that, list the dangers of stigma in addition to methods that can be used to combat stigma.
Ask school staff to put up something (a poster or sign) in their office or classroom that show support for those struggling with mental health issues.
Mixed media contest: Challenge all students to create works of art, videos, songs, or poetry that are aimed at breaking down barriers and encouraging positive mental health and wellness. Give prizes to first place winners in each category as decided by the club. Submissions or winners can then be displayed. This activity will require a few donations from school administration, parents, and/or community partners.
Side walk chalk: decorate the walks with positive messages after school one day.

Holding Meetings

Group Norms

Clubs are not...

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