The Green Bandana Project is all about working on supporting a broader approach to transforming the mental health climate among students, staff and their communities, all to help make a difference and SAVE lives, one lime green bandana at a time! The idea was inspired by "Dan's Bandana Project" at UW-River Falls, which asked students to pledge to support others' mental health. Though The Bandana Project originally started on college campuses, many high schools, and community leaders since have adapted this life-changing movement. The Bandana Project takes a broader approach to suicide prevention and mental health needs. A movement that allows students, staff, teachers and their communities to work together against stigma and to reinforce solidarity in mental health awareness in the school environment. Through trainings, various resources, and lime green bandanas, the program helps TBP members to identify the signs and support others struggling, while bringing awareness to a movement about making it shameless, empowering, and helpful to talk about mental health needs and suicide. Students, staff and the communities who join the trademark movement, tie a lime-green bandana to their backpack/purse that shows as an indication that they are a member of TBP who may serve as a visible beacon of support for others in their school that also carry resources cards with them that provide support. From normalizing prompts for everyday conversations to linking folks to suicide prevention trainings, the resources offered by The Bandana Project use in both fundamental and constantly-developing principles in public health theory. We are so excited to work with you to transform the mental health climate of high school students, staff, and their communities, all will help make a difference and SAVE lives, one green bandana at a time! Please contact [email protected] with any requests.
