Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death of people between the ages of 15 to 29 years old. This brought the idea of the Mental Health Council at Wilson High School, a club that was created a few years ago. With the rise of mental illness in teens, the Council works to destigmatize mental health and raise awareness for those who struggle with the constant battle that is mental illness.
According to the WHO Organization, depression is one of the leading causes of disability. This goes to show how significant mental health is to a functioning body.
The club has events and fundraisers throughout the year, such as the Green Out game that happened this October, a pickleball tournament, and the Walk of Remembrance to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to suicide. Last but not least, the talent show takes place in the spring to showcase talented students! All of these things are to bring awareness to our community about a topic that has been misunderstood for years.
The most recent event was the pickleball tournament which took place on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It was an awesome day seeing some of the high school students and people from the community come together for a few hours for friendly games of pickleball!
I asked leaders and members of the Council what the club means to them, and Sofia Arana Lyon gave a comment, “It means so much to me that we have a club where we can provide the necessary resources to help the community while also spreading awareness on a topic that needs to be talked about. Mental health is so important!!“
“To me, the Mental Health Council is a platform used to help eliminate the stigma behind mental health at school. It helps students know that they are heard when they speak out about their mental health and helps them feel less alone at school,” stated another member.
Karina Snyder responded, “I have been involved in the Mental Health Council since my freshman year, and have seen all the organization does with striving to break the negative stigma around mental health. Although many teens who have poor mental health feel vulnerable and alone, almost a third of all students experience some struggle with mental health during high school. The MHC provides essential reassurance to these students to try and show them that they are not alone and that things will get better. I am so grateful to be a part of this amazingly impactful organization.”
One member said, “The Mental Health Council means that there is a place where people are able to discuss mental health and/or their personal experiences with it. It should be a place where people are learning and the Council should be able to educate more people about mental health and how to avoid wrong information about it.”
I have been a part of the council since my 9th-grade year, and I am really fortunate to have been a part of the fight against the stigma surrounding mental health. I know many people in my life who have struggled with this constant battle, and advocating for them is so important to me. There are so many more opportunities to get involved! If you feel strongly about this topic as well you can join this amazing cause!
