"The CDC reports that queer youth attempt suicide at nearly three times the rate of their straight peers. About half of all queer youth report recent symptoms of depression… but there's a ray of hope. You know what stops these numbers cold? A voice. Not my voice, not our voice: your voice. When a queer kid feels threatened, or ashamed, or isolated, one expression of reassurance, kindness or support, from a non-queer peer seems so little, but that can save a life."

Seattle Men's Chorus travelled to Mercer Island High and Middle Schools with a message of Allyship that resonated off the walls of the auditorium and beyond. Seattle Men's Chorus artistic director, Paul Caldwell, joins Coping 101, along with students from Mercer Island High School, to share the impact that straight allies and peers can create in the journey towards love and acceptance.

Coping 101 is an award-winning student-led podcast from c89.5, presented in partnership with Seattle Children's, Forefront Suicide Prevention, and other community-minded partners, where Seattle area high school students get real about mental health. Through honest conversations with peers, Artists and behavioral health professionals, they break down stigma and share tools for coping with life's challenges — because no matter your age or background, we all struggle sometimes, and there are healthy ways to cope.

Find more c89.5 podcasts at c895.org/podcast

• Seattle Men's and Women's Chorus: https://www.seattlechoruses.org/
• Seattle Men's Chorus Upcoming Events: https://www.seattlechoruses.org/seattle-mens-chorus-current-season/
• SMC on social: https://www.instagram.com/seattle.mens.chorus/
• KOMO News "New program uses music, student storytelling to tackle bullying against LGBTQ community": https://komonews.com/news/arc-seattle/new-program-uses-music-student-storytelling-to-tackle-bullying-against-lgbtq-community

"Even though we come from different communities we all get to meet here, and the school truly acts as a bridge between all of our communities." Wilbur-Creston-Keller is the ultimate cooperative school, bringing three different rural communities together to give all these students a second home.

Wilbur-Creston-Keller Cooperative School is so much more than the sum of it's parts. This small school in Central Eastern Washington bring three small communities together for scholastic and community care, to ensure that "All Wildcat's Thrive". Their unique situation requires unique answers to questions around mental health, and school Principal Teresa Chirsman, and student, Jocelynn, sit down with our host to break it all down.

Coping 101 is an award-winning student-led podcast from c89.5, presented in partnership with Seattle Children's, Forefront Suicide Prevention, 4Culture and other community-minded partners, where Seattle area high school students get real about mental health. Through honest conversations with peers, Artists and behavioral health professionals, they break down stigma and share tools for coping with life's challenges — because no matter your age or background, we all struggle sometimes, and there are healthy ways to cope.

Get started with more episodes, and find community-centric resources online at c895.org/coping101

• Wilbur-Creston-Keller Cooperative: https://www.wcsd.wednet.edu/
• Forefront Suicide Prevention: https://intheforefront.org/

• Forefront in the Schools: https://intheforefront.org/programs/forefront-in-the-schools/

• Rural Health Info: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/states/washington

"One of our team physicians published a study . . . about rates of suicide in student athletes, and it came from a database that was national, not just here at the University of Washington, and looked at a ten year period in what the suicide rate was . . . Not only was suicide the second leading cause of death in student athletes, the rate of suicide . . . doubled from the first ten years to the second ten years." The Unversity of Washington is working hard to provide suicide prevention and mental health training to it's students, because even the physically strong face mental difficulties.

UW Athletics partnered with Forefront Suicide Prevention to pioneer one of the first athlete focused suicide prevention training programs in the country. University of Washington football player, Paul Mencke Jr, volleyball players Elise Hani and Katy Wessels, and Director of Psychological studies, Dr. Kelly Schloredt, sat down with us to discuss this important athlete training that takes place off the field.

Coping 101 is an award-winning student-led podcast from c89.5, presented in partnership with Seattle Children's, Forefront Suicide Prevention, 4Culture and other community-minded partners, where Seattle area high school students get real about mental health. Through honest conversations with peers, Artists and behavioral health professionals, they break down stigma and share tools for coping with life's challenges — because no matter your age or background, we all struggle sometimes, and there are healthy ways to cope.

Get started with more episodes, and find community-centric resources online at c895.org/coping101

• Forefront Suicide Prevention: https://intheforefront.org/
• Forefront in the Schools: https://intheforefront.org/programs/forefront-in-the-schools/
• Forefront on social: https://www.instagram.com/intheforefrontwa/
• UW Department of Family Medicine "The Mental Health Game Plan": https://vimeo.com/1072599693
• UW Athletics on social: https://www.instagram.com/uwathletics/?hl=en