Morro Bay High School had a special week dedicated to mental health, where students and teachers engaged in activities to spread knowledge and improve their well-being. This event is associated with Mental Health Awareness Month, which is celebrated in May in the US every year.
Mental Health Awareness Month is designed to emphasize the significance of mental well-being, reduce the stigma surrounding mental disorders, and foster discussions concerning emotional health. Another important aspect of this holiday is the recognition that mental health matters for everybody, not only patients. Thus, people are encouraged to take care of themselves, which is as vital as physical health.
Ms. Brinkman, the Psychology teacher, has been spearheading this initiative for the past decade. “Everyone has mental health, even if not everyone experiences mental illness”, she explained her intention to increase awareness among students regarding their mental well-being and encourage them to recognize that everyone has a mental state, whether they are suffering from mental problems or not. It is her hope that during this week, learners can relax and engage in healthy and productive activities that will benefit both themselves and others. ”I hope students are reminded to take time for themself and do something fun regularly,” Brinkman said.
One important aspect of the week is the student-driven activities. Different student groups design activities aimed at fostering positivity and encouraging students to focus on mental well-being. One of these groups is planning an activity known as the “affirmation station.” This activity will involve students writing encouragements on sticky notes, and putting them on a big poster with “lots of glitter”, said one student in that group. Another group will also decorate strawberries with stickers and motivational messages for their classmates to foster positivity. This group said “Everybody goes through different forms of mental health, and it’s super important to spread awareness about it.” showing that the issue of mental health was especially important for them since all the students have similar problems and need to realize that they are not alone in this.
During the week, the whole campus becomes involved in various events. For example, on Monday, all the students are asked to wear green as a symbol of awareness. The wellness center arranged games and give-away prizes, while there were various snacks and even cakes at nutrition breaks. The students also received pins representing mental health awareness.
These types of events make the week unique and meaningful, students are reminded to take care of themself and each other “It’s important to make space for joy”, Brinkman said. This way, mental health is no longer a psychological matter but an everyday issue that requires special attention from students.
