‘Be nice.’ Program Aims to Help Boost Student Mental Health

In my 12 years of teaching high school mathematics, I have taught in three different school districts, leaned into three different communities, taught over 1,800 students and partnered with so many amazing parents. In this time, one thing has become very evident – our students benefit by being seen as the whole student.

Students can face many challenges while in their adolescent years, with one of those being their mental health.

Just like we challenge our students, I had an administrator challenge me to bring something to our student body that would help support the mental health of our students within our building. My administrator, Michael Leiter, empowered a handful of teachers and many student leaders by putting a large image up on the auditorium screen. This image had three pillars: Climate and Culture, Youth Mental Health, and Records and Recognition.

I felt a personal draw to the Youth Mental Health pillar, so I took this on with a group of students, and this is where my journey with “be nice.” started. “Be nice.” is a program for businesses and schools created by the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. It is a four-step action plan that stands for Notice, Invite, Challenge and Empower. This program focuses on positive mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. When used effectively, the “be nice.” action plan encourages individuals to challenge themselves and others to seek appropriate professional help when they notice mental health changes or concerns.

Over the past six years of being the “be nice.” advisor, my student-led “be nice.” team works hard to help break the stigma within our own building. We have hosted “be nice.” basketball games to try to spread awareness, shared mental health facts on the student announcements, created lessons during our homeroom period, organized annual assemblies and many more events.

Mental health issues can have a significant impact on student learning. Our student-led team has not only promoted positive mental health, but a positive culture of kindness within our school. So, I will leave you with this, just like I have always challenged my students and my administrator challenged me, I want to challenge you. How can you break the stigma of asking for help for mental health services? How can you help to promote kindness?

This is the third in a series of guest blogs by the 2024-25 Michigan Regional Teachers of the Year. Kristen Ritter is a mathematics teacher at Greenville High School in Greenville Public Schools.