RADical Hope and Bring Change to Mind Team Up in Northeast

New York, N.Y. (September 22, 2020) – Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), an organization dedicated to ending discrimination and stigma surrounding mental illness, and RADical Hope, a foundation established to break the grip of emotional isolation that is hurting so many young people, today announced a strategic partnership to launch BC2M initiatives in 50 high schools in the Northeast beginning this fall.

RADical Hope identifies, rigorously evaluates, funds and directly partners with exceptional youth mental health programs to help them expand into as many communities as possible. The Foundation will be making a multi-year investment in the Northeast rollout of BC2M. RADical Hope is separately working to bring skill-based wellness programming to U.S. college campuses.

The BC2M peer-to-peer high school program gives teens a platform to share their voices and raise awareness around mental health issues.  The evidence-based club program empowers and educates students through a culture of peer support within schools. Utilizing the various tools and materials that BC2M provides, passionate student leaders work to create a more empathetic and educated community where no student feels alone in their experience. As teens across the country are beginning this unprecedented fall semester with increased feelings of isolation and anxiety, the BC2M student movement is needed now more than ever. Through new virtual initiatives including the upcoming Virtual Student Summit, a Virtual Club guidebook, and a bimonthly National Club Video Call series, BC2M is providing its clubs with the resources and opportunities that will ensure club members continue to feel connected and able to achieve powerful change within their school community.

“RADical Hope seeks to build resilience in the lives of young people across the country, and BC2M advances this mission.   High school years can be very isolating for kids. We are committed to improving connection and connectivity wherever we can. We are thrilled to partner with Bring Change to Mind to help expand mental health initiatives in Northeast schools,” said RADical Hope founder Pam Martin. “Their track record of success, based on a peer-to-peer model of support, inspired our investment in their expansion.”

“Bring Change to Mind’s High School Program gives teens a platform to share their voices and raise awareness around mental health, and RADical Hope will help us reach many new students in the Northeast,” said Bring Change to Mind Executive Director Pamela Harrington “Our common goal is to empower these students to educate one another, and their communities, and to create a culture of peer support within their schools. Together, we’ll fight the stigma around mental illness.”

About RADical Hope

RADical Hope is committed to breaking the grip of emotional isolation that is hurting so many young people. Pam and Phil Martin established the Foundation in honor of their son, Chris, who died by suicide in the Fall of 2017. Like many young people today, Chris experienced periods of profound emotional isolation and lacked the proper opportunities to express his struggles. Chris’s experience is at the core of the RADical Hope mission. To learn more, visit: www.radicalhopefoundation.org

About Bring Change to Mind (BC2M)

Actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close Co-Founded Bring Change to Mind in 2010 after her sister, Jessie Close, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and her nephew, Calen Pick, with schizoaffective disorder. Every individual who speaks out inspires another. And another. That is how they work to end the stigma around mental illness and Bring Change to Mind. To learn more, visit: bringchange2mind.org