LMHS Students Support Green Bandana Project

Florescent green bandanas will soon be on backpacks across the Linn-Mar High School campus. It’s a student-led effort to make Linn-Mar a more conducive environment for talking about mental health. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for middle and high school-aged students in the United States. A start to reversing this trend is the Green Bandana Project, a nationwide suicide prevention and mental health awareness campaign.

Every morning next week, Linn-Mar students who are members of the Green Bandana Project will be selling Green Bandana Ally kits for $3.00. The kits include a green bandana to tie to a backpack and resource cards with information about contacts for those who may be considering suicide. Linn-Mar student Alexa Gormley is leading the effort. “Lime green is the color of mental illness awareness and by tying a bandana to your backpack, students will know that you are a safe person to approach if they need someone to talk to”, Gormley said. The money raised will go back to supporting the Green Bandana Project and local mental health organizations.

Students struggling with depression, anxiety or another mental health issues should consider reaching out to the Student Assistance Center for help.