Dear BACCHUS Network Peer Educators and Advisors,

Each year, The BACCHUS Network™ strives to provide our peer educator affiliates with resources they can use to create quality educational programming and innovative health awareness events on campus. We utilize the information we gather directly from our affiliates in the annual charter renewal process along with feedback we receive from our national volunteers to determine what topics we need to address for our campus groups. Recent responses from our affiliates indicate that peer educators can use additional information on mental health issues.

Welcome to the very first campaign to promote mental health issued by BACCHUS to support peer education outreach in this critical health and safety area. The Building Bridges - Friends Helping Friends Resource Guide addresses a variety of key issues to assist peer educators in creating a supportive environment and removing barriers for students seeking help for a variety of issues from depression to self-harm. Peer educators can do so much to dispel the myths and educate the campus on professional resources available to students so they can get the help they need to have a safe and healthy life. We need peer educators to carry the message to students that it is okay to seek help and get professional assistance. Peer educators can save lives by becoming informed on these issues and becoming knowledgeable about the resources on your campus and in the community to support students. Peer educators can save lives by being a friend to others and paying attention to any warning signs so those needing help can get it before a crisis occurs.

This new campaign could not have happened without the generous support of our partners for this effort, The Ad Council™ and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You will find an excellent resource CD in this kit that contains various pieces from our partners that you can tailor for your specific outreach efforts in reducing stigma around mental health issues. The CD includes complete media for TV and radio, print, and web banners to promote your efforts around mental health programs on campus. The Ad Council™ and SAMHSA are eager to support you campus efforts to reduce the stigma around mental health.

The BACCHUS Network™ National Staff
(P) 303-871-0901
(F) 303-871-0907
(W) www.bacchusnetwork.org