Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Ashleigh Cromer, Executive Director at Be Strong:
Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to Be Strong?
A: Be Strong is a non-profit that empowers youth to prevent bullying, isolation and suicide by igniting change in peer behavior through a comprehensive student–led approach. Our purpose is to encourage all students to reveal the challenges they are facing, and to train and equip them to become more resilient. For example, this includes the Be Strong mobile app that helps them access, in real time, a host of critical life-saving resources. Through our more than 3,000 state student leaders, Be Strong also unites students to make positive changes within their families, schools, communities, states and the country.
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Q: You’ve recently announced your partnership with technology leader LG Electronics USA to brighten the holidays across America; can you tell us about your partnership?
A: We teamed up with LG Electronics with the ultimate goal of giving the free gift of sustainable happiness during a time when people need it most. Our #GiveHappiness campaign is designed for anyone who could use a bit more happiness for themselves or to share with others.
#GiveHappiness focuses on practicing, learning and sharing six sustainable happiness skills that are backed by 75 years of scientific research. These six happiness skills include positive outlook, human connection, mindfulness, gratitude, generosity and purpose.
Throughout the holidays, we’ve been focusing on a different skill each week to make the holidays a bit brighter. And, as we look towards starting the new year, this is also a perfect time to start your own happiness journey.
All you have to do is go here to download our interactive happiness checklist that has tips for each skill that can be practiced and shared to develop sustainable happiness. We’ve also created a downloadable happiness gift card (of course, it’s free!) to give to family and friends to encourage them to take the happiness journey with you. As we look to 2021, we suggest that for the first six weeks, you practice one skill a week. When you’ve learned and practiced all six skills, you will have internalized critical happiness skills that can lead to more happiness and resilience – and it’s backed by science and proven to work!
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Q: LG Experience Happiness and Be Strong also recognized several families for how they live the happiness skills in everyday life. Can you tell us more?
A: LG Experience Happiness and Be Strong wanted to recognize and do something special for our Be Strong student leaders and their families.
First, we wanted to honor, thank and give back to six families who truly personified the six happiness skills. For each of the six families, LG and Be Strong provided an entire home appliance and laundry upgrade, just in time for the holidays. These new kitchen and laundry appliances are helping them to simplify their daily lives and increasing the ways in which these selfless families serve their local communities.
Additionally, when we surveyed our Be Strong student leaders, we found that many of them were in technology deserts and lacking the technology needed for online school, as well as to carry out their goals of sharing critical mental health resources. We asked LG for 10 laptops so our student leaders could stay connected, and they gave us 100!
Q: Can you give us more insights into your happiness programs?
A: What we’ve learned is that you may never know when someone is struggling. With the pandemic, youth today are experiencing an array of factors from uncertainty, to social isolation, anxiety, depression and more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 40 percent of Americans are struggling with mental health or substance abuse due to COVID-19. The crisis has taken a psychological toll on people of all ages, but teenagers are especially affected. School closures and social distancing cut off teens from major means of psychological support, putting them at higher risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to Stanford University.
And, as hard as this last year has been on students, it’s also been extremely hard on their parents, too. Parents don’t always have all the answers and that’s why these happiness skills are so important to practice and share. When we all learn the skills, each one of us is better empowered to focus on our mental health and well-being, regardless of our current circumstances. Plus, the gift of happiness is free and gives so much in return. As we move into the new year people are looking for ways to create a positive outlook with renewed purpose. These happiness skills are an opportunity to do just that and more.
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Q: What can we expect from LG Experience Happiness and Be Strong in 2021?
A: As a part of its overall goal of spreading sustainable happiness skills to more than 5.5 million youth through its Experience Happiness initiative, LG is partnering with Be Strong to help grow their student leader program throughout 2021. We look forward to bringing on hundreds of new student leaders who can positively impact their families, friends and communities.
Q: What’s the best thing about Be Strong that people might not know about?
A: The Be Strong student state reps are young change agents from small towns to big cities coast-to-coast. They are the frontline of kindness and inclusion, impacting their communities in big ways. To be a student leader, you need to be nominated by a parent, school official or other adult. If you know someone who is eight to 17 years-old that spreads positivity and kindness and speaks up for others, then you can go to BeStrong.global to nominate that person to become a Be Strong state student leader. These student leaders gain access to critical resources that help them change the social climate through kindness, inclusion, resilience, advocacy and awareness.
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