Sanford Middle School's Sources of Strength peer leaders recently brought together student leaders, Civil Rights Team members, JMG participants, and classes of sixth and seventh graders at the school's flagpole to celebrate hope and mental health awareness. The gathering on Friday, May 16, during Spartan time, marked the second year SMS has participated in the Yellow Tulip Project from Portland, Maine.
The Yellow Tulip Project is a suicide prevention effort designed for Mental Health Awareness Month that uses the powerful symbolism of yellow tulips to represent hope during difficult times. Back in October, when it was dark and cold, SMS students planted tulip bulbs in the ground. After waiting months to see them grow, their bright yellow flowers finally bloomed in spring, bringing hope to the school community.
Mrs. Quartararo spoke to the gathered students about the importance of helping one another during struggles, checking in on peers, talking to trusted adults, and remembering to have hope when things feel tough. The blooming tulips serve as a beautiful metaphor for how difficult mental health struggles like depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide can improve with help, support, and growth, moving from darkness into a more positive place.
The Sources of Strength club at SMS consists of about 30 students in grades 6-8 who are nominated by their teachers to serve as leaders who want to make a difference. These students aren't typically involved in other leadership clubs, making this program especially valuable for reaching diverse student voices. Together with their advisers, they create awareness campaigns about important issues middle school students face.
As part of their mental health awareness efforts, the peer leaders also organized a health fair where students could learn about topics the club identified as particularly relevant to teens. The students researched and created poster boards covering anxiety, depression, suicide, ADHD, attendance, vaping, and substance use, providing their peers with important information and resources.
Sources of Strength is a national organization that provides a proven suicide prevention method, and SMS received a grant from NAMI Maine to support the program. This marks the club's third year at the school, with dedicated advisers including school counselors Angela Avery, Colleen Quartararo, Vickie Thomas, and Reuben Christie, along with social worker Brent Coleman, outreach worker Cecilia Sirianni, PE/Health teacher Jen Pinette, and art teacher Sam Lynn.