If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. More resources can be found at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Beach balls and banana costumes were on hand to make all attendees feel welcome at a workshop this week in which Nazareth Area High School students guided peers in how to expand mental health support on their campuses.
Aevidum means “I’ve got your back,” and 14 student leaders from the Nazareth Aevidum club aimed to inspire the 107 other high school and middle school workshop attendees Wednesday to explore what such a club can do to promote positive mental health and raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Nazareth’s Aevidum club has grown to encompass about 100 active members and 20 student leaders. Its weekly meetings are open to anyone.
“The club is a way for students to get together to talk about things that are hard to talk about,” student leader Angelina Componovo said, “and additionally to be just a positive space in the school in general.”
Componovo, an 18-year-old senior, said the club has helped her process her struggles with depression and the loss of a family member to suicide.
“I feel like it’s really important to just spread the message that it’s OK to not be OK,” Componovo said, adding that being a part of Aevidum means knowing she’s not alone.
Student leaders loop in advisers and counselors when addressing serious concerns, and they draw on resources like the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 and the Safe2Say Something school safety tool when an emergency response is needed.
Like all Aevidum clubs, the Nazareth chapter draws its core principles from Matthew Wintersteen’s child and adolescent psychology research, aiming to protect young people from mental illness by ensuring that all students are accepted, appreciated, acknowledged and cared for.
Fellow Nazareth Aevidum student leader and 18-year-old senior Manjot Sandhu said she’s become more aware that even seemingly happy students might need support.
“I didn’t realize that behind all that happiness some people are genuinely struggling,” Sandhu said, “and so that’s something I’ve learned to look for, especially with my friends, to see if they need any help.”
It takes extra effort to let peers know that you’re a safe person to speak to in today’s political climate, especially with fear rising among the LGBTQ community about the potential consequences of being in opposition to efforts to strictly define gender norms.
Sandhu said she’s seen that nervousness among her friends.
“They’re just afraid to open up about it, and it’s getting really bad,” Sandhu said.
Aevidum training such as the “Question-Persuade-Refer” protocols — used by mental health professionals to respond to those in crisis to reduce the risk of suicide — has taught student leaders how to gently approach people who might need help.
“They’re just scared,” Componovo said. “They don’t know who to share their feelings with, and we’re just trained to be those types of individuals that can help.”
Componovo’s mother, Jenna, said she’s thankful that Aevidum has given her daughter actionable tools to build a support network and weather rough moments.
“There’s somebody there who can listen, and somebody there who understands,” Jenna Componovo said. “And I think Aevidum’s role, at least in Nazareth, from the perspective of a parent, has allowed others to come forth and ask for help who wouldn’t necessarily have felt comfortable to.”
Jenna Componovo said mental health education should start at a young age in order to build emotional awareness and resilience. Aevidum’s message helps students deal with tough topics like suicide because it emphasizes how to ask for support, she added.
“This is how you get help — that’s the contagion we want to spread. Assistance is out there. Ask for it. Seek it. Let’s copycat survivors,” Jenna Componovo said.
Spreading the Aevidum message
Serving as student leaders in Nazareth’s Aevidum club has inspired both Componovo and Sandhu to continue studying psychology.
Componovo said majoring in psychology will help her become a more empathetic caregiver as she pursues a career as a breast cancer surgeon.
A conversation about family history spurred Sandhu’s aim to become the first psychologist in her family.
While talking to her mother about a family member’s intense experiences with depression, Sandhu said she realized her mother didn’t know what a psychologist was. Translating the word into Punjabi didn’t help. That’s when Sandhu knew there was a gap she could fill.
“I just know that there’s other families out there just like mine that have no idea what a psychologist is, have no idea that they can get help for their mental health situations, and I just want to be one of those people that can make a difference in those lives,” Sandhu said.
First established at Cocalico High School in Lancaster County in 2004, Aevidum clubs have now spread to 300 schools nationwide, with chapters in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Dakota, Iowa and Missouri. Colleges like Millersville and Kutztown also have Aevidum clubs.
Aevidum Director of Outreach Mary Pritchard said the organization is starting to go global, with a club opening in Ethiopia.
“People find us and because of our message of youth empowerment and making a difference it spreads like wildfire,” Pritchard said.
Attendees at Wednesday’s workshop hailed from 14 schools across Northampton and Monroe counties. About half were looking to start a new club, while the others were looking for ideas on how to expand their club’s work.
Making the club fun and finding student leaders who are good at bringing others in is key, Nazareth Aevidum adviser Ryann Bedoya said.
Advising an Aevidum club can feel like a lot of responsibility, Bedoya said, adding that forming strong relationships with students is worth the worry.
“If you can make a difference and help somebody, it’s definitely worth the stress and the tears and all that comes with it,” Bedoya said.
Morning Call reporter Elizabeth DeOrnellas can be reached at [email protected].
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