Montgomery County’s BTheOne behavioral health program is recruiting high school students to talk with their peers about mental stressors, substance use and suicide prevention. The program trains teenagers to lead outreach in their own schools and social media accounts.
The youth-led campaign runs through the county’s Department of Health and Human Services. Program leaders discussed the effort at County Executive Marc Elrich’s weekly media briefing Thursday to commemorate National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
BTheOne has reached students at 17 public and private schools in the county since it’s launch in 2017, program leaders said.
Teenage ambassadors have trained more than 700 of their peers in life-saving response, and the campaign’s social media has drawn about 1 million impressions.
Program leaders said they recruit ambassadors intentionally from across the county and want students who understand the cultures shaping mental health in their own communities.
What ambassadors say
Sarah Insa Sadio, one of the program’s ambassadors, said her advice for peers starts with cutting back on doomscrolling. She suggested parents and caregivers collaborate with their teens to establish tech-free zones at home, including bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, in addition to getting the proper amount of rest.
BTheOne trains Montgomery County teenagers to reach their peers on mental health, substance use and suicide prevention.
What BTheOne ambassadors do
The program offers two levels of involvement, according to the county.
At the first level, students share the campaign’s digital posters and materials on their personal social media accounts. The county says that engagement matters because teenagers often have large followings among their own age group, and because their peers trust them.
At the second level, students lead activities and campaigns at their schools. Options include group mindfulness sessions, self-soothing kit workshops, movie screenings followed by discussions, poster campaigns and assemblies with professional or student speakers.
The county notes that student-led events are meant to be supported and overseen by school counselors or administrators, with speakers carefully vetted.
Ambassadors also take part in wellness education and outreach events, and the program includes leadership opportunities.
How to join
Students interested in becoming BTheOne ambassadors can email info@collaborationcouncil.org for more information.
