At Mountain Phoenix Community School (MPCS), a group of 14 8th graders spent 6 months creating a video to portray three different teen’s experience with mental health problems at school. First, teens explored community problems, selected one problem: middle school students mental health, and created a product to create a dialogue around how fake words (words said to people experiencing a mental health problem) can be painful. These young leaders ask students and adults alike to “fight fake words” by eliminating phrases like “I’ve got worse problems” and “just take a deep breath” when trying to help a friend that’s struggling. 

To view the video, click here.