Timber Creek will be hosting Mental Wellness Week the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 1. Student Body President, Jade Ealy, will be leading Student Council in creating awareness of the importance of maintaining your well-being, both mental and physical.
Without the intention of trivializing the severity of mental illnesses, Timber Creek encourages students and staff to display solidarity and compassion through colors, rather than dress up days.
Monday: Stress vs. Anxiety (Wear Orange)
Tuesday: Healthy vs. Toxic Relationships (Wear Green)
Wednesday: Sadness vs. Depression (Wear Grey)
Thursday: Self-love vs. Self-Harm (Wear Pink)
Friday: Unity Day (Wear school colors)
“We do Mental Wellness week right before the holiday season because there are a lot of students who don’t have a loving home to go to during break, and so this time of year can be really tough for them. Our goal for this week is to encourage those struggling with mental illnesses to reach out for help if they need it, to educate people on how they can support others who might be struggling, and also encouraging just everybody to have good mental wellness.” Ealy explains. “You can be mentally unwell without having a mental illness, so we really want to convey to students how important it is that they’re taking care of themselves at all times (eating properly, getting an adequate amount of sleep, etc.).”
“Lifeline” cards will be set out during the week. The card will list on it the appropriate steps that a person can take should they find themselves in a position where somebody has reached out to them for help. The purpose of this card is that students who are struggling with a mental illness or thoughts of suicide can hand this card to a friend or trusted adult.
Often times, your perception of yourself is tainted by society. To better understand the effects of this, student council has a project for you to be able to visualize this.
“Throughout the week, we plan to have cellophane covering the bathroom mirrors to represent how we can sometimes see a distorted image of ourselves. We will also have “helpful hotline” cards in the [restrooms].” Ealy elaborates. “The helpful hotlines will list the suicide prevention number as well as other helpful resources for students who are struggling and in need of someone to talk to.”
As community members, each individual is more than just a student or teacher. You are a friend, confidant, and trusted figure in someone else’s life. Take that title and give it meaning by checking in on friends and loved ones. A quick call or text could hold a deeper impact than you even anticipated. You do not know what struggles others are facing, however, letting them know that you are there for them can be just what they need.
To furthermore display the support and unity of those who have or are currently struggling with a mental illness, a district-wide vigil will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the KISD Rock Gym parking lot.
Ealy views this awareness week as more than a box on a to-do list.
“I just really want to emphasize to students how much they matter. No one is ever alone in their struggle. It’s so important to me that students are taking care of themselves. My message to them is this: you should be your #1 priority. Yes, grades and extracurricular are important, but not at the expense of your health or your happiness.” She explains. “Don’t be afraid to take a step back if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, and definitely don’t be afraid to reach out to someone if you need help. I can’t stress this enough.”
This is well done. Thank you.
Great job on this!!