Stand Together
Stand Together is a program that helps middle and high school students address the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. Many young people experience stress, anxiety, depression or substance use challenges during adolescence, yet fear, misunderstanding and stigma can make it difficult to ask for help or talk openly about those experiences. Stand Together works to create school communities where conversations about mental health are accepted, supportive and free from judgment.
The program trains and empowers students to become leaders and advocates for mental wellness among their peers. Through education, awareness and peer engagement, Stand Together encourages understanding, promotes inclusion and helps connect young people to support when it is needed.
How to Get Involved
Stand Together is powered by schools and students who want to create a more supportive, stigma-free environment for their peers. If your school is ready to start conversations, build leadership, and promote mental wellness, joining Stand Together is simple and free.
What Stand Together Provides
Stand Together is offered at no cost to schools in Allegheny County. Schools receive:
- Funding for student-led projects (up to $1,000)
- Stipends for adult advisors
- Substitute reimbursement, if needed for training days
- Team t-shirts to help students represent their group
- All expenses covered for the annual recognition event, including transportation and lunch
- Ongoing coaching from program staff throughout the school year
The goal is to ensure every school has what it needs to participate - no matter its size or resources.
What Schools Do
- Create Your School Team
- Each school forms a Stand Together team that includes an adult advisor who guides and supports students throughout the year and a group of 15 to 25 students, including student leaders and students with lived experience related to mental health or substance use.
- This team becomes your school’s hub for planning and leading stigma-reduction activities.
- Attend Stand Together Training
- Student teams participate in two full days of training designed to:
- Build understanding of stigma and mental health
- Strengthen teamwork
- Spark ideas for school-wide projects
- Training gives students the tools they need to lead meaningful, peer-driven change.
- Plan and Launch Student Projects
- After training, teams design and submit a project proposal outlining the activities they hope to bring to their school. Approved teams may receive up to $1,000 to support their work during the school year.
- At the end of the year, every school shares their accomplishments at a countywide celebration event.
Contact
Schools: School staff in Allegheny County who are interested in bringing Stand Together to their school can email DHSStandTogether@alleghenycounty.us to schedule a meeting and discuss next steps. Each school must identify at least one staff advisor for the student Stand Together group and receive formal approval from school administration.
Students: Students at schools with Stand Together can help spread the word by sharing their group’s impact. Tag Stand Together on Instagram to highlight the work happening at your school. Students at schools that do not yet have Stand Together can share this information with friends, teachers, counselors or school leaders to encourage bringing the program to campus.
Parents and Families: Parents and family members can support Stand Together by contacting school administrators and encouraging them to bring the program to their student’s school.