Breaking the Silence Logo

A HOSA Health Education Initiative on Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health by the Numbers

57%

rise in youth suicide rates before the pandemic.

44%

of all U.S. high school students suffer with persistent sadness and hopelessness.

11

years it takes for a struggling child to get treatment.

Student Journey

Follow these steps to complete our mental health education program.

1

Pre-Reflection Survey

Complete this short survey to share your initial thoughts about mental health.

Take Survey

2

Jordan's Story

Experience Jordan's journey through mental health challenges and recovery.

Jordan's Story

3

Post-Reflection Survey

Complete this final survey to reflect on what you've learned.

Take Survey

About Our Presentation

Breaking the Silence: Mental Health Awareness

Our HOSA Health Education presentation focuses on destigmatizing mental health issues among adolescents and promoting early intervention strategies.

Objectives

  • Increase awareness about common mental health disorders
  • Identify warning signs of mental health struggles
  • Provide resources for seeking help
  • Promote empathy and understanding

Target Audience

  • Seventh grade classrooms of 25-30 students

Key Messages

Mental health is just as important as physical health.

It's okay to not be okay - seeking help is a sign of strength.

Early intervention can make a significant difference in outcomes.

Mental Health Resources

Expert Interview

Interview with Andrew Philip, MD, MA

A Zoom interview conducted with Forensic Psychiatry Fellow Andrew Philip, MD, MA to gain professional insight for our lesson plan.

Expert Interview

Interview with Megan Pawsey

An interview conducted with Olentangy Liberty High School's Mental Health Specialist, Megan Pawsey.

Expert Interview

Interview with Evi Roberts

A Zoom interview conducted with Evi Roberts, Youth Program & Policy Manager from the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

Expert Interview

Interview with Jason Durell

An interview conducted with Olentangy Liberty High School's Counselor, Jason Durell.

Lesson Resource

Portfolio

Created for HOSA Health Education.

Crisis Hotlines

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • Trevor Project (LGBTQ+): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678

Project Updates

HOSA Regional Competition
Latest

Presented our mental health education program at the Ohio HOSA Region 5 competition and and won second!

Trial 1

Conducted our first trial run for Mrs. McKendrick's 7th Grade Academic Assist class. Students engaged well with Jordan's Story and provided valuable feedback.

Expert Interview

Conducted an insightful interview with Psychiatry Fellow Andrew Philip, MD, MA from The Ohio State University. The interview provided valuable clinical perspectives for our program.