- Improving the physical space where students use the bathroom can help students feel cared about at school.
- Providing information about how to access mental health resources at school can increase help-seeking behaviors, and affirmations can encourage maintaining a positive mindset.
- The entire school community
- School Mental Health Team (counselors, social workers, psychologists etc)
- School Nurses
- Health and Wellness Teachers
- Art students
- As always, make sure you have all the necessary approvals before implementing this campaign. Meet with your school’s administration team to determine the following:
- Is the goal to have resources in every bathroom on campus, or just a few?
- How many boxes/bins should be in each bathroom?
- How often will resources need to be restocked?
- Are there any materials that cannot be included in the boxes/bins for safety reasons?
- Once the logistics are planned, determine what resources you want to provide. You can decide in collaboration with your administration or as a club. Curious about what students outside of your club think? Poll them at lunch!
- Once the final list of resources is approved by your administration team, begin the process of ordering and gathering. While some products will need to be purchased from a store or ordered online, you can still get creative – consider asking an art student or club to design the affirmation posters or get club members involved and facilitate a poster-making activity at your next club meeting!
- TIP: Don’t forget to share the load! As a leadership team, decide who among you will be responsible for which materials. For example, two people could be in charge of ordering hygiene products, while another person gathers pamphlets and handouts from the counseling office.
- TIP: Ask local businesses in your community if they’d be willing to donate resources. For example, a health clinic could provide menstruation products or hand sanitizer, or even a bigger corporation like CVS or Walgreens!
- As a leadership team, divide into groups: one to assemble the boxes/bins in the approved bathrooms and the other to hang up any posters or artwork.
- TIP: Create a rotating calendar and share with your leadership so that everyone’s in the know. Make a plan to check the boxes/bins every week and plan to restock every 2 weeks or so.
- This campaign could be a great way to raise awareness about your club! During the morning or afternoon announcements, let students know what your club is planning. Invite students to the next club meeting to contribute ideas.
- TIP: Include a recruitment flyer with information about when/where your club meets in the resources. You could also include OMM buttons or stickers!
Host a design contest for the affirmation posters and award the winner(s) with a gift card to an art store like Michael’s or Blick.
- How are students responding to the resources? How quickly did the boxes/bins have to be restocked?
- Have counselors seen an increase in students asking for additional help?
- Has your club seen an increase in members since decorating the bathrooms?
- Do you think this campaign has had a positive impact on your school culture? Why or why not?
- What were some challenges you experienced during the planning process? What were some feel-good moments?
- What feedback have you heard from students or school staff?
- Is there anything you could change about the boxes/bins?
This campaign was created by Eastern High School’s Ramblers Minds Matter.