Mar 2

Mar 2 HHS Student Council Mental Health Initiative

Photo by Kate Powell

Kate Powell

Mental health is one of the most prevalent issues of today’s youth. According to the World Health Organization, one in six adolescents experience a mental health disorder, and most of those cases go undiagnosed or untreated. It is in the presence of societal ignorance and stigma that mental health issues are able to thrive, as asking for help is made to seem embarrassing, uncommon, and impossible. Conversely, it is through spreading awareness and opening up conversations about the real, common tragedies of mental health issues that society can erase the stigma.

This year, the Hamilton High School Student Council decided to focus on shedding light on the prevalence of mental health, especially during a time when the world is more isolated than ever before amidst the pandemic. To accomplish this, the student council organized a mental health initiative that would focus on six distinct topics concerning mental health awareness: what grounds us, what gives us purpose, removing the mask, building healthy relationships, stress relief, and mindfulness. The student council put together informational presentations about these topics to be shown to students during advisement, and they also planned a few school wide activities to engage students in the initiative.

“If you have a healthy mental health, you have something to fall back on, you will be a better student all around,” says Mrs. Hasbrook, one of the guidance counselors at Hamilton. Mrs. Hasbrook worked closely with student council to put together the goals of the mental health initiative. Hasbrook notes that, “If your mental health isn't where it needs to be, academics won't be there either,” and therefore it is very important that as a school community we open up the discussion about mental health.

Through the week of February 15th, students were asked to write aspects of their life that ground them or give them a sense of purpose on vinyl leaves during their lunch period. Then, all of the leaves were used to create the Hamilton Purpose Trees (pictured above). These trees resemble the ideas, people, activities, etc. that collectively provide students with purpose. They stand tall on the cafeteria widows for students and staff to glance at to be reminded of all of the things that keep our school community grounded, even in the presence of difficult times.

The following week, students at Hamilton were asked to take an anonymous insecurities survey following the mental health awareness presentation shown in their advisement. The student council then compiled the results ofthese surveys in an effort to demonstrate how large percentages of students suffer with the same insecurities. One of the easiest ways to fall into the struggles of mental health is to believe you are the only one suffering, when ironically we are all struggling everyday because we are all human. Everyone has insecurities, and the purpose of this school wide survey was to bring awareness to just that.

Student Council Advisor, Mrs. Draeger says, “It is important to focus on the mental health of teenagers because it is at the core of everything else. If a teenager's mental health is strong, then they are able to better manage their well being and relationships.”

On March 8th, Hamilton will focus on stress relief and mindfulness by having a cozy pajama and sweats day. Following an advisement presentation, students will receive a peppermint candy, which is proven to relieve stress, and a notecard with several mindfulness tips and exercises.

Hamilton High School’s Principal, Mrs. Newcomer claims that “Mental health is about being proactive. Just because there isn’t a diagnosis doesn’t mean we shouldn’t attend to our mental health.”