Tamaqua Area High School students want to help their peers address mental health and avoid tragedies. Adults are applauding them for their initiative.

Ten Tamaqua students recently took part in training to form a chapter of Aevidum, a club whose name means “I’ve got your back.”

The nationwide, student-led club seeks to end silence about depression and suicide, and be a resource for students who may be struggling.

“We are committed to a school environment that has a positive impact on all students while increasing the mental health of our classmates,” said Love Ortiz, a Tamaqua junior.

Minersville Area Junior-Senior High School hosted the Aevidum training for high school students from around Schuylkill County. That school lost three students to suicide in 2020.

Members of the Tamaqua club will make themselves available to talk with their peers, and offer them options for professional mental health.

Raising awareness is another priority. One of their first projects will be putting up bulletin boards in the school to help lower stigma around mental health.

“Seven words we learned were ‘Don’t give up, don’t ever give up, and that’s what our statement is about, trying to get the word out there,” said Robert Fredericks, a junior.

Tamaqua has had programs in the past where students help each other with mental health, Superintendent Ray Kinder said. Having students leading the initiative makes it more that their peers will be willing to discuss what’s affecting them.

“I think this is something that will help support the mental health of our students, as well as develop a school climate of support for each other, which I think we could all use more of,” Kinder said.

The students made a presentation about their club to the Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday night. Larry Wittig, school board president, said he was impressed that the students were proactive in wanting to bring the club to the school.

“To go out and do this on your own, not knowing whether you can do it or not, I think you’re great,” Wittig said.