BELLAIRE — Bellaire High School students played a cup game that helped them connect with each other as peer-led intervention group Sources of Strength recognized the struggles of mental health this week.

Students participated in a team building activity Wednesday as Mental Health Awareness Week was observed at Bellaire High School. Sources of Strength leads such activities at the school.

The week is all about students raising awareness around mental health and how engaging in positive and healthy activities can help students with any issues they have, whether it’s academic or home life, teacher Rebecca DiFabrizio said.

Students played a cup game, where two people were partners while an announcer shouted out body parts the students had to touch. When the announcer would say “cup” the players would then try to quickly grab it, and whoever successfully got it, won.

Sources of Strength group members always have a portion of their meetings that involves a team building game to get them connected. DiFabrizio said the leaders wanted to share the game with other students.

“The theme was ‘Connecting at BHS.’ They wanted to share this game with the rest of their peers,” she said. “It’s one of their favorites, and it’s just a quick and easy, fun way to make a connection.”

She added that it’s good for students to disconnect from their technological devices, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and focus on something else, such as connecting with other people and working toward something together.

Students also wrote words on a paper chain they all held up together after the game. DiFabrizio described it as any old school activity, but said it brings the students a sense of relaxation, joy and a sense of accomplishment because they feel they’re putting themselves in the finished product, and it’s something they’ve all contributed to, which creates more of a sense of unity.

Group members of Sources of Strength include Ava Ault, Katelyn Baker, Graham Campbell, Dane DAquila, Aubriel Dodds, Kayla Edgar, Clara Espuela, Carli Farmer, Lexi Fry, Marley Higgs, Aubree Hines, Baylee Hornbeck, Kaylee Jenkins, Savannah Kanyuch, Ella Keller, Grace LaRoche, Jayden Martin, Elizabeth Mayer, Andrea McCloud, Emilee Menendez, Lauren Menendez, Bryce Metcalf, Klowiee Muravsky, Abby Myers, Alexander Padgett, Raekwon Pettigrew, Laikyn Ross, Miah Sheehan, Rhianna Somerville, Alyson Vingia, Addison Weeks, Alessa Yocum and Lillian Zeller.

All of the members share a common goal – to raise mental health awareness and make a difference at the school.

Higgs said she joined Sources of Strength because she feels like mental health is important and needs to be talked about, especially for teenagers.

Members agreed doing an activity with other students, such as the cup game, creates a better atmosphere for students rather than sitting in a classroom all day listening to a lecture.

Hines joined the group to help everyone at the high school get involved in activities and make sure they’re not alone, while Edgar joined to make a positive place for her peers. Emily Menendez also wanted to make sure everyone is involved.

Just like Edgar, Padgett and Keller chose to join Sources of Strength to spread positivity.

LaRoche joined the group to help others, let them know they’re not alone and be there for everyone.

Zeller said she joined because she wanted to help the community and better Bellaire. Lastly, Somerville also wanted to make everyone feel included during their time at Bellaire High School.

Higgs said she believes mental health is important, especially now, as people are on their phones a lot and getting exposed to negative news, whether it be locally or nationwide.

“I feel like we need to press more on having those resources to make people feel better all around,” she said.

Weeks said it’s important to recognize people’s mental health struggles and try to help them get help because not everyone sees it on the outside.

Hines noted that one of the most important takeaways from spreading mental health awareness is to get people to not take their own lives.

The group has bright colors and positive messages with its activities to help people think more positively and bring more fun to what the members are sharing.

“I feel like, if we just sit in the auditorium and they give a lecture about mental health and suicide awareness, they’re not gonna listen,” Addison said. “We need the fun colors and activities to actually get people engaged and to pay attention.”