By Nora Shupe

“I’m familiar with the vision of Hope Squad and Soulwell and what the purpose is and that’s to help bring mental health tools and be good ears for people to listen to and be an outlet for some of their problems,” Moyer said.

Mr. Moyer, BHS teacher, has stepped up to advise Bellbrook High School’s Hope Squad program previously run by Ms. Lewis. Moyer has been a mental health advocate for the past 10 years of his life. He has been in charge of a mental health program he created called Soulwell.

“Soulwell teaches students how to help their community by being good listeners and how to control their emotions by monitoring their self-talk,” Moyer said. “We’re getting students practical tools to decrease their anxiety and increase their peace.”

Moyer has found that the power of students coming together to learn the program of Soulwell is even more powerful than students meeting with psychological professions.

Moyer plans to combine Hope Squad’s program and his Soulwell program together to have one big team of mental health advocates. Students who have been in the Soulwell/Hope Squad program previously are going to work together to help teach new members of the program the lessons throughout the first semester of the year.

During the second semester, once every student in Hope Squad understands Soulwell thoroughly, Moyer plans to have them go and teach underclassmen the lessons.

JT Harnish, a junior here at Bellbrook High School, learned Soulwell his freshman year and follows the lessons of the Soulwell Program.

“My little sister is a freshman, so I am planning on helping out in her grade and teaching lessons because I want the school to be a more positive environment,” Harnish said.

Harnish said Soulwell helped him feel better connected with himself and others. It helped him learn how to be a better listener and overall a better friend and peer. He thinks once the Hope Squad starts teaching these lessons at school, anyone who is struggling with their mental health will be able to deal with their emotions better.

“One of our goals this year is to make sure everyone knows that they matter and that we are here to be a listening ear,” Harnish said.