Oregon City High School Students Tackle Youth Mental Health

Don’t Bear The Load Alone

This campaign was created by students, for students. Through hands-on learning about primary prevention, they explored the real factors impacting youth mental health, identified a key risk and protective factor to focus on, and brought their vision to life—crafting a message, designing materials, and building a peer-driven Instagram campaign to spark connection and awareness.

Follow along with Pierre the Bear HERE!

Here are some of the messages they voted on:

  • Inhale Peace, Exhale Stress
  • Slow Down & Relax
  • Don’t Bear the Load Alone – this was the WINNER!
  • Don’t Let Class Clash with Home
  • Class is Where the Work Stays, Home is Where the Rest Lays
  • Focus on the Step in Front of You, Not the Whole Staircase
  • Take a Breath, Don’t Stress

This year’s campaign will include:

  • SLOGAN: Don’t Bear The Load Alone
  • Stress reliever BEARS with campaign slogan
  • Bear Mascot Costume for events
  • Large stuffed bear to highlight campaign
  • Instagram campaign with mental health messages
  • Textured, calming stickers with campaign slogan
  • Weekly Pierre the Bear appearances at OCHS to hand out campaign materials and to make announcements on OCTV.

Other campaign components:

  • Kick-off event on May 8th with local dignitaries
  • Weekly mental health messages shared on OCTV