The Growler Sept/Oct 2016 | Page 4

You Matter to Unity! M s. Palmer, head of Unity at Lee V Pollard, organized the You Matter campaign along with the Riverside County Department of Mental Health. As you may know, our school’s unity had organized a campaign to help students with thoughts of suicide. In the past, there has been incidents nationwide of students who turn to suicide as an escape. The Riverside County Department of Mental Health has coordinated and promoted several organizations to decrease the percentage of teen suicides. Our school has been working with them to spread awareness. Everyone who has dealt with suicidal thoughts due to life problems can get help to cope with their situations. Unity members have passed out green flowers with information about getting help before making the decision of committing suicide. Unity were in the front of the school handing out flowers with a note on it saying “you matter”. On the back of the note it had websites and numbers to use if they need someone to talk to. Some students are not comfortable talking to people about their personal situation, but it is a great idea to prevent suicide. “A lot of people reacted really well, the flowers cheered them up and made their day better” noted Unity Student Rheanna Vonic In the past, they’ve work with Riverside County Department of Mental Health and still continue to work with this organization. In the future, they will manage time better in order to create the best activities for our students. They will not cram it all together, it will be well prepared. “Time management will be better, in order to create the most activities and get enough information for suicidal students” “Our job this year is to try to promote observed Unity student Ilene Gonzalez. and coordinate activates to help kids feel -Ashley Garcia like there more connected” Mrs. Palmer commented. 4 | The Growler