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Troop 1885 completes the Mental Health Awareness Patch Program
May 9, 2023
Five Cadettes from Troop 1885 completed the Mental Health Awareness patch this month. Troop members have spent the last two months learning about the prevalence and impact that mental illness has on society today.
“The girls learned about the brain and how it functions, different parts of a neuron, different types of mental health illnesses, myths and stigmas, famous people who struggle with mental health, how to ask for help, how to support others, and the do’s and don’ts of using first person language,” says Troop 1885 Leader Lucinda Pype.
The Mental Health Awareness Patch Program is offered by the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) for Cadette Girl Scouts. Criteria for the patch includes a range of interactive activities such as acting out scenarios, making posters, research, and learning about the countless ways our brains influence behavior.
According to Lucinda, one of the favored parts of completing the patch was a chance to make “edible neurons.”
“Even as older teenagers, the girls loved the edible neurons…can’t go wrong with pretzels and cheese!” she says.
Overall, the girls finished the program with new knowledge on mental health and positive strategies for how to start the conversation to increase awareness in their communities.
“I loved the discussions the girls had. They spoke about their struggles with such honesty, which I loved to watch,” says Lucinda.
