Students helping students.

That's the impetus for the Aevidum Club.

The Aevidum Club was created in 2003 by students at Cocalico who had lost a friend to suicide, Marticville Middle School club adviser Danielle Croft said. "They didn't know if they could talk about it or how to talk about it," she said. "Out of that tragedy came Aevidum."

Croft stated, "It's a club where peers get training on how to support their peers. By no means are we teaching them to be therapists or psychologists or counselors but to recognize the signs and symptoms in their peers and help them seek help to the 988 crisis helpline, a psychologist or counselor, or our SAP (Student Assistant Program) team here at Marticville."

A total of 21 students from Marticville Middle School and Penn Manor High School attended the fifth annual Aevidum Live Conference, which was held at the Delta Hotel in Allentown on Feb. 27. The interactive event is dedicated to mental health advocacy and awareness.

Out of more than 300 clubs nationwide, Penn Manor School District's Aevidum clubs were honored as the Club of the Year, a recognition of their dedication to fostering mental health awareness and support within their schools and community, Croft said.

The adviser noted Penn Manor received the honor because of its outreach events and how students have stayed in Aevidum year after year. She said the group's friend-to-friend training is empirically supported by Penn State University research. "It shows that what we're doing is saving lives and working for kids," Croft said.

In the 22 years since the Aevidum Club was founded, it has grown to include clubs in Ohio, Missouri, Texas, Maryland, and Delaware.

Croft said there are 40 club members at Marticville, 20 at Manor Middle School, and 50 at Penn Manor High School. Marticville's club meets approximately 28 times during the school year. Members visit the district's elementary schools to tell sixth-graders about Aevidum.

"I think it's important for students to be involved because I see so many students struggling with an anxiety, with PTSD, with ADHD, with all of these things that were definitely a problem when I was growing up, but it was not OK to talk about it," said Croft, who is a member of the national Aevidum board of directors. "So we want to shatter that stigma so kids can get help and feel like they're not a burden. They don't have to hold that all in."

Club members receive friend-to-friend training so they can be aware of when a classmate may be having some difficulties. "They get training on how to recognize signs and symptoms that their friends may be struggling and the resources to point them in the direction to get help," Croft said.

Croft praised the Marticville club's student leaders, who include youth advisory board members Payton Forst, Thomas Williams, and Emma Gring. "It's a student-driven club," the teacher said. "They make social media posts, hold special events, and come up with ideas to carry on the mission."

Payton said, "It's important for me to be in this club because I feel like I want to help people."

Thomas stated the Aevidum Club gives out candy and positive messages during the year and places posters around the school.

Student Daphne Troupe pointed out a way to find out a friend may be struggling. "One of the signs is personality change," she said, "(like) if someone is usually a happy person, but then the next day doesn't talk at all."

Student Emmelyn Rhoads said everyone can benefit from lessons learned in the club. "It helps you be more aware of others, and some of the things you learn help everyone," she said.

Student Danielle Williams mentioned the club will hold a 5K this spring.

The Lancaster In-Person Strides Against Stigma 5K will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Herr Park, 205-155 Ironstone Ridge Road, Lancaster, next to Manor Middle School. Participants will run or walk a 5K course, or they can choose a shorter path at the park.

Registration is free, but those who make a minimum donation will receive an Aevidum shirt.

For more information, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/PA/Lancaster/aevidum5k.