M.I.N.D. Students
M.I.N.D. is a group led by five high school juniors; our name stands for 'Mental Illness Needs to be Destigmatized.' When our group was tasked with creating a service project, we immediately agreed that the lack of conversations regarding mental health, not only in our school, but also in our community was problematic. We researched and attended Mental Health First Aid courses, to raise our own awareness first. After, we hosted two virtual resource fairs for 20 participants. We educated participants on mental health, and created activities that allowed students to express their emotions and perceptions of themselves and their own mental health. In the spring, we will run a Mental Health Awareness Week for our entire school. Students will be able to participate in discussions, activities, and reflections to understand the importance of opening up about their own mental health. Mental Health carries a stigma, because talking about one’s well-being is often seen as a weakness. However, M.I.N.D wants others to recognize that speaking about their mental health provides them an opportunity. Our goal is to destigmatize our community's assumptions around mental health, so teens have the tools to support themselves and others.
