Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown has its first club aimed at raising awareness on mental health thanks to 18-year-old senior Allie Hathaway, writes Jennifer Lee for FOX29 Philadelphia. 

Hathaway is the founder of the Mindset Matchup club, a safe space where students can open up and support one another. 

“It was never really talked about until now and I just feel like breaking the stigma earlier in people’s lives is something that could make a difference later on,” she said. 

Hathaway plays lacrosse, which made the need for a club of this kind even more pressing. 

“Being a student athlete is just so tough sometimes, but that’s why I started it so that we all have a place where we can all go together,” she said. 

To launch the club, Hathaway collected more than 100 student signatures, and in its inaugural year, around 100 active students participated. 

“It really is kind of a perfect storm of things that created this mental health crisis in America,” said Dr. Robert Moran, Principal at Bishop Shanahan. “To see our students rising up to do something about it, like I said, really has been inspiring.” 

Read more about the club at FOX29 Philadelphia. 

_____