In the Spring of 2020, students at Merrill High School launched the Raise Your Voice (RYV) club by recruiting leaders with an interest in mental health advocacy.
 
After being temporarily sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic, students reenergized the program after seeing many students struggling with mental health issues and isolation in the wake of community-wide COVID-19 mitigation measures. What started as a group of eight quickly grew to more than 100 members.
 
“Raise Your Voice is a welcoming, supportive, and safe environment for students interested in discussing and advocating for those living with mental illness in their school community,” said Jane Bentz, Community Health Improvement Lead for Aspirus Health in Merrill. “This student-led club is open to all students, whether they live with mental illness, know someone or have a general interest in advocating for mental health.” 
 
Since its launch, RYV members have received training on how to support a peer who is struggling with resources like Question, Persuade, Refer and additional training on adolescent mental health provided by local professionals.
 
Community events organized by RYV have raised funds to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Northwoods and Tyler’s Playground which is located on the Riverbend Trail in Merrill and was built in Memory of Tyler Holbach who died by suicide.
 
Merrill’s RYV chapter also provided encouragement to other school districts in the area to form their own chapters.
 
Thanks to the support of Aspirus and NAMI Northwoods, Wausau West and Wausau East High Schools, DC Everest High School and the School District of Marathon have since added RYV to their list of approved school activities for students. The Antigo School District is the latest to come aboard for the 2023-24 school year.