The Greenon Local School District is proud that Sydni Howard, a freshman at Greenon High School, has been selected as Clark County’s representative on the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council. This opportunity will allow Howard to actively support youth mental health across the entire state.
Howard is one of 20 students, ages 14-19, chosen from a pool of 50 applicants statewide. Beginning March 1, the Youth Advisory Council will begin reviewing grant proposals and develop initiatives aimed at increasing awareness and education about suicide prevention.
A dedicated student leader, Howard is actively involved in several Greenon programs, including Bringing Awareness to Students (BATS) and Sources of Strength (SOS), a peer-led suicide prevention initiative. She applied for the council with encouragement from Sarah Jergens, Greenon’s mental health therapist.
“Sydni jumps on any chance she gets and has that initiative,” said Jergens. “She’s very outgoing and always steps up.”
Howard’s motivation to advocate for mental health stems from hearing firsthand how depression affects her peers and experiencing the loss of a family friend.
“This is a big problem, and it won’t solve itself. It’s time we bring some light to it,” Howard said.
As part of the Youth Advisory Council, Howard and other council members will develop prevention programs to be implemented in schools, including a campaign at Greenon that emphasizes the importance of seeking help and assuring students that "it’s okay to not be okay."
Jergens stressed that students often find it difficult to approach adults when struggling with mental health challenges. Having a peer advocate like Howard can make a meaningful difference in encouraging students to seek support.
Howard sees this as a long-term commitment. As a freshman, she can serve on the council until age 19 and hopes to use this experience to further her career aspirations in psychiatry.
“I’m focused on making the world a better place through mental health,” she said.
The Greenon Local School District commends Howard for her dedication and looks forward to seeing the positive impact she will make in our school, Clark County, and beyond.