PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center (NBPC) recently recognized The Bandana Project at Mounds View High School for its contributions to addressing and preventing bullying at the sixth annual Unity Awards. The Bandana Project received the 2020 Faces of Change Award, which recognizes individuals or groups making a difference in Minnesota, where PACER’s NBPC headquarters is located, and in the Los Angeles area, where PACER also maintains an office.
The Bandana Project is a peer-driven mental health awareness and suicide prevention program providing resources for those struggling with mental health issues. Mental health training is provided for students, who then wear a visible lime green bandana attached to their backpacks. This indicates that they are a safe individual to approach with mental health-related issues and someone who is equipped to offer support and resources. If someone sees a lime green bandana on the backpack of a stranger, it is a sign of hope and judgement-free support.