Mental health challenges can put a damper on anyone’s day-to-day activities. Many students experience a variety of feelings throughout the school year, ranging from positive to negative to positive again, and sometimes all in one day. Some may feel they uncertain how to manage these stressful emotions. That’s where FCHS’ Sources of Strength comes in.
“Sources of Strength is an upstream suicide prevention program. Rather than focusing on students and young people who are experiencing a crisis, we want to focus on how to prevent these crises from occurring,” said Jessica Lavin, the district’s Student Outreach Representative.
Sources of Strength is directed toward recognizing a student’s strengths, and learning how they can serve as a positive outlet for their emotions. This includes identifying important strengths such as family, friends, and mentors. It is essential to help students determine where to go and what to do to get the support they need. Sources of Strength also runs a club at FCHS which meets during Fluco WIN 1 clubs in the Project Library.
“During club time, we plan events and finish up many different activities. We also play fun games, when we can,“ said Lavin. She added “We are consistently looking for more students to be involved in the club. We also create campaigns to host and use different ideas from the students. We are hoping to continue the suicidal prevention walk again this year,” she added.
One recent campaign featured a table with different reflection questions such as “What are you grateful for?” and “What is something you’re looking forward to in 2025?” Questions like these allow students to gain awareness, giving them a moment to stop and reflect on the question being asked.
“We love running campaigns to create a sense of unity in the school. We’ve put on thankfulness campaigns and trusted adult campaigns, to name a few. We aim to remind everyone they are an important and needed part of the community,” said club member Savannah Peterson. “Sources of Strength has been important to me as I know several people who have had struggles with their mental health. I have, as well. Sources of Strength offered me an outlet to learn how to better my mental health by focusing on my sources of strength, as well as the mental health of those around me. It has given me many opportunities to present and expand my leadership skills,” she added.
Lavin has spent four years in her current position at FCHS, and has been promoting and doing Sources of Strength for three years now. She wants to help promote positive school culture and make it where students’ voices remain heard. Along with that, she wants an outlet to always be provided, and to give students a way to manage and identify their ongoing thoughts and emotions. Lavin hopes to partner with other adults from within and outside the school, and have more interested students join the club.
“Part of the reason why I wanted to make sure this program happened is because many of us have experienced dark times in our lives,” said Lavin. “Everyone needs someone to talk to. It is always good to be able to give students a space to do that. I find it important for students to have a trusted adult, so they can go or talk to when in need of help,” she added.
For more information about the Sources of Strength Club, contact Lavin at [email protected].
