By Kani McNeil
Mental health awareness is the concept of people coming together in order to alleviate some of the damage that trauma and stress have caused. We seek relief and comfort in others because people need people that they can trust and rely on to carry a weight that would otherwise be overwhelming. Overall mental health has been declining since COVID and teens and children need help. According to Monroe county publishing, “30% of students reported their mental health was not good during the COVID-19 pandemic ‘all’ or ‘most of the time.’” That is one in three children that said they were constantly stressed and suffering. They also write “11% of girls reported that, in the past year, they attempted suicide compared to 4% of boys.” These are children that have struggled so much that they were willing to take the one way they had out. This is important to me because I have struggled with mental adversities and have helped and grown with people struggling. Looking in from both sides, change certainly needs to happen. In order to bring more awareness, I will be working with the nurses, counselors, and administrators in order to create an East Day event to get to know our own minds and those of the ones around us.
1 Comment
Daniel Hart
3/31/2023 07:08:10 am
Kani, this is admirable work. I love that you're thinking about this and willing to do something about it. Part of what we are trying to push at East is not just reactive mental health care, but proactive approaches too. We need people to be ready to respond to crises, but we also need to provide and create an environment that is healthy to be a part of. Hopefully that's what folks are seeing with the half days and other school celebrations. I would LOVE to collaborate with you on your idea for creating a mental health event, either as part of what's already planned this year or as something additional we offer. Mr. Simmons is also a huge advocate.
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