Kids’ Declining Mental Health Is the ‘Crisis of Our Time,’ says Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and that "we all have a role to play in supporting youth mental health and creating a world where young people thrive."

We couldn't agree more, which is why we’re so passionate about what we're doing at Be THE Voice®!

Be THE Voice® provides K-12 schools with an innovative approach to creating a more inclusive school environment. Our peer-driven platform inspires students to 'Do what is right, not what is easy', by equipping them with the interpersonal skills to become a “voice” of kindness and inclusion within their schools and communities.

The heartbeat of our initiative revolves around a weekly video series – shown school wide - that is narrated by students similar in age to the viewer. They share first-hand experiences regarding a variety of topics like bullying, feeling left out, anxiety, mental health, stereotypes, ethnicity – and include tips, or advice, as to how to respond when facing similar situations. Each video ends with a call-to-action to inspire the viewer to make a difference in someone’s life.  

65% of people are visual learners, so it’s no surprise that our weekly visual format is highly effective in changing student mindset. To further that impact, we provide Discussion Points in the Elementary and Middle-School programs that allow students to talk about the video’s topic and exchange opinions in a safe space.

We also provide a variety of club-facilitated activities designed to foster new friendships as students work together to meet monthly Be THE Voice® goals. The unique combination of weekly visual messaging and club-led networking activities challenges reactive instincts that can lead to conflict, and instead promotes empathy and inclusion!

In fact, post-program survey feedback reflected a significant decrease in office referrals and out-of-school suspensions in the Elementary and Middle-School programs the last two years. One of our largest school Districts with 31 schools enrolled, reported a 36% decrease in office referrals and a 23% decrease in out-of-school suspensions between 2021/22 and 2022/23.

For years now, teachers and counselors alike have told us that Be THE Voice® helps to facilitate a space where students feel connected with their peers and are ready to learn, and a classroom where teachers can “teach” rather than managing student misbehavior. That's a win-win situation if you ask us!

Learn more about how to enroll your School (or District) for the upcoming school cycle by reaching out to admin@be-the-voice.org

The deadline to enroll for the 2024-25 program cycle is 6/30/24.