Caledonia High School students are taking a stand in support of each other.
A group of 35 students worked together with staff advisers to create an assembly as part of the district’s overall efforts to support mental health. The assembly focused on the Be Nice initiative utilized in schools across the nation to educate and provide students, staff, and parents with the tools to recognize a mental health illness.
“High schoolers face so many challenges and are under so much stress that our age group is the largest age group for mental health illnesses,” said senior Camryn Asper, who helped plan the assembly. “Having a group like the Be Nice leadership board is so important because we are able to spread awareness and stress to students that they are not alone, and give them the tools on how to handle certain situations when it comes to mental health.”
The assembly included interactive question-and-answer activities about mental health. Students signaled their answers by raising glow sticks when they had experienced a certain issue. Camryn said she and her classmates found a commonality of experiences regarding mental health among students.
The Caledonia Be Nice group passed out candy with encouraging notes to students during exam week and is also planning activities for the holidays.
