Submitted by: Riana A  
School: Chandler High   Organization: Arizona Students for Mental Health
Live or work in CUSD: Yes  
Family members attend CUSD: Yes
Subject: Mental Health
Comment: Arizona Students for Mental Health was not able to attend this meeting in the capacity we have the previous meetings. However, this doesn't reflect lessened dedication of our efforts in the fight for mental health. We again, ask you to collaborate and communicate with us to improve the current way our district goes about this crisis. Last board meeting, we urged you to work with us so things would change. We know that an issue like this will not be solved overnight. We are all working hard to help the struggling community and we appreciate your efforts. We hope that in the future weeks there will be improvements in the way that the governing board communicates with the students who are advocating for mental health. We know you can do more and we hope to see these changes soon. Thank you.

Submitted by: Kim M  
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE   Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes  
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: dishonest, dangerous myths pushed at last meeting
Comment: At the last meeting a speaker was allowed to promote a website they referred to as 'a movement.' This 'movement' is run by a religious organization, specifically one known to actively discriminate against the LGBTQ community. They promoted the website claiming they wished to provide students with volunteer opportunities but did so while pushing dangerous myths about mental health and suicide. Why was this allowed? It was obvious this speaker was merely using the very sensitive topic many students were there to speak on "student mental health" as an excuse to proselytize a religious-run 'movement.' They cited claims from studies but admitted they could not identify the studies. You should have cut the mic right then. From there the speech devolved into what sounded like a late-night infomercial and yet they were allowed to continue pushing dangerous rhetoric to everyone there and all those watching- including children.

Submitted by: Kim M  
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE   Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes  
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: dishonest, dangerous myths pushed at last meeting (cont'd)
Comment: By not interrupting/correcting these myths it sends the message that they are credible and to be believed. You need to dispel the myths pushed by this speaker as well as disclose the true origins of this website/'movement' so that none of the children who heard this are confused or harmed by the dishonest and very dangerous messaging used to promote a religious 'movement.' As has been pointed out to you on several occasions by a brave student speaker (who DOES cite their sources: https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/Arizona-Snapshot-2019.pdf), LGBTQ students have unique experiences which can and do affect their mental health. At the last meeting they reminded you that 92% of students in AZ schools have heard 'gay' used in a negative manner and that 68% say that they have experienced verbal harassment due to their sexual orientation.

Submitted by: Kim M  
School: NONE OF THE ABOVE   Organization: N/A
Live or work in CUSD: Yes  
Family members attend CUSD: No
Subject: dishonest, dangerous myths pushed at last meeting (end)
Comment: All CUSD students deserve to be protected from discrimination, bullying, and abuse and to be provided with the truth regarding mental health. You have no right giving a platform to propaganda which reinforces harmful myths about mental health and/or suicide, or which is pushed by a church known for their anti-LGBTQ positions. CUSD students are showing up meeting after meeting and telling you that you need to do better. I wholeheartedly agree: DO BETTER.