BHS Interact Takes Action on Teen Mental Health

The year 2022 was a tough one for high school students in Berkeley, California, having just returned to classrooms in the previous fall, following their pandemic isolation. In April 2022 a Berkeley High student died by suicide, leaping from a tall parking garage in downtown Berkeley during a time when students were passing by. Then in October, two brothers, also Berkeley High students, were shot and killed at a house party. The high school campus was rocked by these events as the news reverberated through the student body. Parents, teachers, and local officials discussed how to address these tragedies, with increasing alarm at the mental health crisis facing teens across the globe.

A group of five recent alumni of Berkeley High decided to take action. They embarked on a project to research and compile a mental health resource guide for local youth. The guide not only lists local, regional, and online resources, it also provides information on the signs of emotional distress, symptoms of mental illnesses, and advice for teens, parents, and teachers.
With funding from the Rotary Club of Berkeley, the Berkeley High Interact Club printed and distributed the guide at local events, community centers, libraries, and one-on-one to teens. Now in the second year of distribution, the guide has been translated into Spanish and continues to be a valuable resource.

Tyen Zhu, Past President of BHS Interact, notes, “Suicides and death by gun violence among teens have soared in recent years. In fact, young people are more likely to die by guns than from any other cause. Often, teens do not know how and where to get help. We hope that this resource guide will encourage them to reach out for the support they need.”

Tyen, who is currently Lieutenant Governor of Rotary District 5160 Interact, continues to work on distributing the guide. “We invite other high schools and other Interact Clubs to use this guide as an example of what they can do in their communities,” he said.

For more information, contact Tina Etcheverry, BHS Interact Advisor, at [email protected].

For a pdf of the Mental Health Resource guide, click here.

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