In the first half of 2018, teen death by suicide nearly doubled in the Kansas City-area suburbs of Johnson County, Kansas, mirroring an alarming nationwide trend of increased teen suicides. In response, the county school district superintendents brought together health professionals, government leaders, nonprofit voices, faith communities, parents, and teens to address the crisis. While adult voices had been at the center of mental health conversations, they knew a different approach was needed—something led by teens, grounded in empathy, and built to last. It was determined that teen voices needed to be elevated, stories needed to be shared, and the community needed to take action to see real change. From these efforts, the Zero Reasons Why campaign was born.
What started as a grassroots response to a local crisis has since grown into a national campaign with a bold mission: to remove the stigma of mental health through the power of storytelling and peer-to-peer connection. Today, Zero Reasons Why serves over 50 public school districts in Kansas and has national reach through its social media platforms—showing what can happen when an entire community is willing to work together, try something new, and amplify teen voices.
Teen-Led Storytelling That Removes Stigma
Zero Reasons Why is teen-led by design. Teens are not just the face of the movement; they’re taking action and using their voices to create change in their communities by sharing stories, leading school clubs, launching local initiatives, and working alongside adult allies to elevate mental health as a shared priority. Teens are driving conversations about mental health in ways that feel authentic, relatable, and hopeful.
At the core of the campaign is the research-backed belief that sharing stories can save lives. By sharing our own experiences—struggles, victories, and words of encouragement—teen advocates create space for others to know that they’re not alone. These stories challenge stereotypes, dismantle shame, and build understanding across generations. We’ve seen firsthand how stories shared can spark a ripple effect. When students speak up, their peers listen. And that’s where change begins.
A Movement Gaining Momentum
In 2023, we launched Zero Reasons Why Clubs—a school-based solution that empowers teen leaders to bring mental health awareness, support, and resources directly to their peers. These student-led clubs, supported by adult sponsors, are designed to be easy to launch and impactful from day one.
We provide everything students and schools need to get started, including mental health resources, meeting guides to foster conversations, activities and videos to engage students, event planning toolkits for in-school awareness events, and more. Club members are also encouraged to complete the Be There Certificate as part of the club content to learn how to better support themselves and their peers.
Currently, Zero Reasons Why Clubs are active throughout Kansas, but the demand extends far beyond state lines. Since the campaign’s launch, we’ve heard from school districts, mental health centers, and nonprofit organizations across the country—all eager to bring it to their communities. They share a deep commitment to teen mental health but often lack the tools to act. With additional funding and strategic partnerships, we want to help meet this need. Our goal is to make Zero Reasons Why Clubs accessible to teens in every corner of the country, so no student feels alone and every school can foster open, stigma-free conversations.
Join the Movement!
We know that peer-to-peer support works. We’ve seen lives changed, friendships formed, and school cultures transformed. But we also know there’s still so much work to do. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. The need for teen-driven mental health initiatives is more urgent than ever. That’s why we’re passionate about expanding Zero Reasons Why—so every young person has the support, resources, and voice they need to thrive.
Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or advocate, there’s a role for you with Zero Reasons Why. Follow us @zeroreasonswhy_, share your story, or help bring the campaign to your area. Together, we can rewrite the narrative around teen mental health—and remind each other that there are zero reasons why we should struggle alone.
Learn more about Zero Reasons Why or share your story at https://zeroreasonswhy.org/ Add your name to our club interest list to receive the latest information about how you can get involved and make a difference: https://zeroreasonswhy.org/start-a-club/ Connect with our campaign team about potential partnership, sponsorship or collaboration https://zeroreasonswhy.org/contact/
