UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — When Jack Jansen was in just seventh grade in 2020, his friend, whom he’d known since they were both 5 years old, died by suicide.
Jansen, now a senior at Emmaus High School, said he eventually learned to live as best he could with that tragedy by talking it out in a group setting at the time.
On Thursday, Jansen joined another group, this time 450 teens from across the state, at Aevidum Live: 5th Annual Youth Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Conference, held at Delta Hotel by Marriott in Breinigsville.
“During COVID, December 2020, my friend Craig Salomon took his own life, unfortunately, and it was definitely a tough experience, you know, life-changing I would say," Jansen said between activity stations.
"For the first, like, month, it was just, I couldn’t really get it all in my head and stuff.
"But I think, going forward, it definitely helped me become a better person — just seeing what life, you know, just don’t take what you have for granted.
“It’s also a reason why I joined Aevidum. Just to kind of get mental health out there. It's a very important thing, you know. It affects a lot of people nowadays.”
'I've got your back'
Aevidum is a word from Latin roots meaning “I’ve got your back.”
It is a student-led movement that started in 2003, after a student at Cocalico High School in Lancaster County died by suicide at age 15, a sophomore.
That student was Philip Cardin.
"It was very early on after Phil's death, even when I was just a student, I started to feel like, losing my brother gave me this empathy that just came," Maggie Cardin Myers, his sister, said.
"So I was attracted to people I felt I could connect to other people," said Myers, now a middle school English teacher at the same school she and her late brother attended.
"I now see my role is, connecting students to those professionals who can help them. His death made me see people differently, that being kind matters.”Teacher Maggie Cardin Myers, who lost her brother to suicide
"I now see my role is connecting students to those professionals who can help them. His death made me see people differently, that being kind matters.”
There are now hundreds of Aevidum clubs in elementary, middle and high schools and colleges in and outside the state.
The nonprofit has appeared on radio, in newspapers, and was featured on the ABC-TV show "Good Morning America" to showcase its mission to raise awareness about mental illness and other issues facing teens.
It stands by its "I've got your back" message and creates that culture of support with students and teachers alike.
Student driven
Aevidum students have worked directly with Pennsylvania government officials and have testified before the state House and Senate to illustrate the need for more mental health awareness training in schools.
Aevidum's four pillars are appreciate, acknowledge, accept and cared for — everyone.
"Some schools find us because they've searched the internet and are looking for a program on suicide prevention, other schools hear about us after the tragedy of losing a student," said Mary Pritchard, director of outreach, who also is advisor to the Nazareth Area High School club.
She is a retired clinical and school psychologist.
"One of the things that makes us really different is that we are student driven."
A talk workshop is the first step in becoming an Aevidum club.
Virtually or in person, students learn what the club is about. Then they learn Aevidum's four pillars: the four characteristics of a healthy school community.
"We consulted with professionals to find out what that is," Pritchard said. "Students need to be acknowledged, accepted, appreciated and cared for, respected.
"It was the students' idea to promote these characteristics in a school.
"We have a youth advisory board that vets all information before we launch it to a broader audience. Like chalk the walks, campaign kits, raising funds.
"Financial should not be a barrier to participation, so we're constantly looking for funding."
Thursday's conference was for established clubs, to learn more about how they can be youth advocates and find their voices and their leadership skills.
No more keeping it to yourself
Shana Miscavage was among several keynote speakers and also a former classmate of Philip Cardin. She was a sophomore in high school when he died by suicide. He was also her friend.
"In 2003, mental health and suicide prevention was not talked about openly," Miscavage said. "The thought was, the more you talked about it, the more kids would die by suicide.
"Teachers didn't know what to talk about, we as students didn't know what to ask, we didn't know what to talk about with each other, and we certainly didn't know how to talk with the family who has just lost someone.
"I can't tell you how it feels to have 452 advocates in a room, the energy. I can't really put it to words. "
The conference drew 452 students from 52 schools and 17 counties across Pennsylvania. Counselors, health care professionals and school administrators also attended.
Nazareth Area High School students Kylie Grover, Olivia Harper and Kherington Smith said they liked reviewing Question, Persuade, Refer, or QPR — a nationally recognized, tried-and-true suicide prevention gatekeeper training.
'A light at the end of the tunnel'
Thursday’s attendees earned QPR certificates, and they were awarded for efforts in spreading the word that it’s OK to say you’re not OK.
"There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, like they said," Grover said. "Some weeks go downhill, you know. My mental health can get bad at points, but then I just find something that brings me out of that."
Harper said she has personal experience with a family member who tried to take his life.
"We're human, and we're gonna make mistakes, and people just have to understand that."Nazareth student Kherington Smith
Smith shed light on what can affect a teen's mental health, including her own.
"A lot of things can be overwhelming, just like everything," Smith said. "I mean, personally I get stressed out very, very easily, and get very overwhelmed.
"A lot of people, adults especially, expect us to have, like, a certain standard, and just, like, it's pressure at some points, and the pressure breaks and you just can't do it anymore.
"We're human, and we're gonna make mistakes, and people just have to understand that."
The importance of self-care
High school counselor and Aevidum Executive Director Francesca Pileggisaid at least 150 more students wanted to attend the conference, which was to blend clubs and make the movement even more impactful.
"We could have probably had 800 kids here today, so we may have to look into doing this in a bigger space," Pileggi said.
"Some join because a friend did, some check us out and join because they like what we stand for, most have an experience themselves struggling with their mental health."
The day ended with self-care stations, including face-painting and a photo booth.
"All things for fun, because part of being in our movement is, you can't be a good helper if you're not taking care of yourself and recharging your own battery," Pileggi said.
Aevidum will hold a talk workshop with 12 schools at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 in Bethlehem on April 9.
