Writing Your Proposal

Which clubs already exist at your school? You can usually find this information on your school's website. If not, as the front desk. Does your school already have a behavioral health club? If the leading members have graduated, maybe you can contact the faculty advisor and revitalize it. You may find that club already has a mission statement and other important documents you can draw on.

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If not, find out what guidelines you need to follow to propose a new club at your school. These are different at each school. A good place to start is your student council or associated student body.

There are several national organizations that focus on youth behavioral health and wellbeing. If your mission aligns with one of theirs, you might discover you want to start a chapter of a national organization rather than a standalone club. Some even have financial support! Here are a few options to explore:

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• Active minds

• Bring change to mind 

• Erica’s Lighthouse Empowerment Clubs

• NAMI on Campus | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness​

When looking for potential club members, use what is easily available: word of mouth, school communications, and social platforms. You will want to have at least six students ready to commit to being part of the club before you get started. It will help if you create a way for new members to sign up so that you can keep track of them. Google has a sign-up form that is perfect for this purpose. 

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There are so many things you can do that align with your club's mission! Organize guest speakers, send care packages to hospitals, plan fundraisers and community service initiatives, teach stress-reduction skills, and more. These activities will foster engagement, encourage teamwork, and allow your club to leave a lasting impression on your school community.

Do you envision your club standing up to stigma by teaching about behavioral health issues like diagnosis and treatment? Perhaps you want to focus on giving students the tools they need to support friends who are struggling with behavioral health challenges? Maybe you want to focus on making sure students are able to access mental health and substance use treatment services?

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As you can see, there are many different directions you can go with your club!  Workshop a clear 1-2 sentence statement that pinpoints the main, overarching purpose of your club.​

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Trusted adults can help you and your club in many ways. Not only do they add legitimacy to your group, they can also provide a great deal of help with paperwork and communications with school administrators. Moreover, since many topics concerning behavioral health are sensitive in nature, it's helpful to have an advisor who is trained in the mental health or substance use disorder fields. You can seek out advisors who are school counselors, social workers, or school psychologists.​​

First things first: what will you need to spend money on? Start building a list of potential costs and then brainstorm ideas on how to raise money to cover them. The Associated Student Body (ASB) at your school may have funds your club can access. Many teachers are willing to contribute materials to run your club such as art supplies for making posters, paper for meeting minutes, etc. Perhaps you could host a fundraiser for a specific need - a carwash to fund an advocacy trip to the capitol, or do a bake sale to raise money to print anti-stigma posters to put up around your campus. 

You can utilize social media platforms, school newsletters, and posters to generate interest, attract new members, and showcase the positive impact your club is making. But the best way to attract new members is by talking to people. Word of mouth marketing is free advertising that works because people trust their friends to steer them in the right direction.