In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, Peyton Swanigan and Jermiyah Burton started an EAST project to remind students that they are not alone and that people are willing to help during difficult times. They wanted students to know that even when they feel like no one understands or can help, there are people and resources available. They researched youth mental health, suicide prevention, stress management, and healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions using reliable sources.
Peyton and Jermiyah coordinated with their school’s Dean of Students and guidance counselor to discuss their ideas and make sure their project was helpful and appropriate. They created a poster focused on mental health awareness, self-care, and positive ways to express emotions.
Technology played an important role in their project. They used Canva and other digital tools to create their poster. They combined different images and design elements, tested layouts, and made improvements. It took five different designs before they chose their final design. This taught them the importance of testing and improving their work.
They printed their final posters and placed them in several areas around the school building. Through this project, they learned how research, collaboration, technology, and service can create something meaningful for their school community.