Peabody Launches Mental Health, Anti-Bullying Website

PEABODY, MA — A Peabody website dedicated to supporting mental health and anti-bullying efforts is set to be launched five months after the family of Higgins Middle School eighth-grader Jason Bernard said he committed suicide amid bullying.

The city on Thursday said Peabody PROMISE - which stands for Preventing Suicide, Reducing Stigma, Offering Support, Making Meaningful Change, Investing In Mental Health, Standing Against Bullying and Empowering The Community — will "stand as a beacon of hope and support for our community."

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The website is designed to empower all residents of the city with vital resources and support.

The Mayor's Office said the new website is the "central hub for the mayor's task force on mental health, anti-bullying initiatives, and suicide prevention," and will include mental health tools and coping strategies to bullying prevention forms and links to the 988 suicide prevention hotline.

The site will also host meeting notes, event listings, and opportunities for community members to join action teams and collaborate on making a positive impact.

The site can be found here and as a link on the City of Peabody's webpage.

"We believe Peabody PROMISE will be a cornerstone of hope and change for our city, creating a stronger, more compassionate support network for everyone," Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)