October 16, 2024 – With mental health awareness continuing to be a priority throughout Hamilton County Schools, it's wonderful to witness the various ways schools are showcasing its importance across the district. Last week, Red Bank High School held a variety of events at their school for Mental Health Awareness Week. These events were heavily attended to help students learn more about their mental health and how to better create a supportive environment for everyone.
The week started on Monday with an event called “Supporting Our Friends' Mental Health.” Here, students learned how to be good friends and support each other. Next, a relaxing Yoga session taught students a great way to feel calm and be more focused.
On Tuesday, students joined the “Feeding Your Soul” workshop, where they talked about how our feelings about our bodies can affect our minds. The day ended with mindfulness practices to show students how to manage stress and anxiety.
Wednesday’s theme was “You Are Worth It.” Students shared ideas about accepting themselves and learned ways to deal with their feelings better. This included the difference between self-worth and self-esteem. They were taught about how to make “your inner critic” more positive, and shame versus guilt. The session ended with several students demonstrating positive self-talk in front of their peers. The session after was all about coping and emotional regulation practices.
On Thursday, Red Bank High School offered a special session in Spanish called “Una Sesión Informativa sobre Recursos y Apoyo para la salud mental.” This was about mental health resources for Spanish-speaking students. After that, students enjoyed a Sensory Walk, where they walked around the school and learned about grounding, which helped them connect with nature and learn anti-anxiety techniques.
The week wrapped up on Friday with a session about “The Impacts of Transitional Housing: Resources & Support.” Students learned about the challenges some of their peers face and what resources are available to help them. The last event, “Be the Change: Music and Mental Health,” showed how music can help with emotional well-being, featuring a performance from Be The Change Youth Initiative. Using storytelling through song and one-on-one questions, the brother-sister duo share their personal struggles and remind youth, “they’re not alone in theirs; in the darkest moments, there are people who genuinely care about you and want you to feel seen, heard, and loved.” You can learn more about them and their organization here: https://bethechangeyi.com/ourstory . They also brought coffee cup sleeves from (Be)Caffeinated that the students could decorate themselves and leave encouraging notes on for others.
Red Bank High School focused this week on mental health to further help and give students the tools they need to succeed. This was their second year doing Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year was a great success, showing that both the staff and students see the importance of student wellbeing. The school will also keep these important conversations going throughout the year and is already looking forward to next year's event.
For more information on mental health resources at Red Bank High School, or if you would like to host your own Mental Health Awareness week at your school, please reach out to the school’s SEAD Department.