Two years ago, a group of Valley teens in Chandler, Arizona, were prompted to take action after a series of student suicides within the Chandler Unified School District. Students Riana Alexander and Maya Lehti, along with others, formed the nonprofit Arizona Students for Mental Health (AZSFMH) to address the mental health challenges faced by students in their community.
The student-led organization holds meetings every two weeks to share their experiences and advocate for improved mental health resources in schools. Arizona ranks 49th in the country for high rates of mental illness in kids and low access to care, highlighting the importance of their work. AZSFMH has brought these concerns to lawmakers at the state capitol and is pushing for more support from school districts to address mental health needs among students.
Alexander emphasized the importance of amplifying student voices in decision-making processes at both the district and state levels. By giving teens a platform to share their perspectives, AZSFMH aims to ensure that mental health issues are taken seriously and addressed effectively within school communities. If you are interested in learning more about AZSFMH or getting involved in their efforts to improve mental health care for students in Arizona, you can visit their website for more information.
