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Rice Lake high school launches 'Raise Your Voice' club to boost student mental‑health awareness
Summary
District staff described a new Raise Your Voice student club in Rice Lake that aims to reduce stigma, train peers in basic suicide‑prevention awareness and run local mental‑health awareness projects. The board heard the plan and discussed fundraising, training and partnerships before the group’s start‑up was outlined.
Rice Lake Area School District staff presented a new Raise Your Voice club Thursday, saying the student‑led group is intended to reduce stigma around mental health and build peer‑led awareness and referral capacity.
Mark Biscy, Rice Lake High School assistant principal, told the board the club model began with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapters in northeastern Wisconsin and has been adapted locally with adult guidance from Randall Therapies and Baron County Health and Human Services. “Raise Your Voice empowers teens to create a new conversation about mental health through education, leadership development and civic advocacy,” Biscy said, reading the club’s mission as posted on state materials.
Biscy said the program is still in its infancy at Rice Lake: five students in the WOW program have been meeting monthly, adult advisers from Randall Therapies have supported initial meetings, and the district has set up a student activity account to receive small grants and donations. Planned early goals include two local awareness projects, at least one fundraiser and participation in at least one statewide Raise Your Voice training.
Board members asked how the club would operate in practice. Presenters said fundraisers would cover materials, travel and event costs; the club is not a therapy group but an educational and advocacy organization that could help peers recognize distress and refer them to professionals. The presenters noted district staff already receive Youth Mental Health First Aid training and that the club’s activities would be coordinated with school counselors.
The presentation emphasized student leadership and community partnerships as the club scales beyond the WOW program into larger buildings next year.
