Bellaire High School students walk to reduce mental health stigma
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BELLAIRE — Bellaire High School students came together Friday to show they care about their fellow classmates who may be suffering from mental health struggles or having thoughts of potentially committing suicide.
Sources of Strength’s fourth annual Steps Against Suicide Awareness Walk began at the village’s park and continued in a loop through the downtown.
Prior to the walk, students wrote the names of friends and loved ones who lost their lives to suicide on a banner. They also wrote positive messages and drew pictures in chalk on the sidewalks around the park. Some also played games together including hitting a volleyball around or rustling a small parachute. Still others simply enjoyed the cooler, dry weather and shade of the trees at the park along with the large water fountain.
A few members of the community also came out to walk with the students.
“Sources of Strength is a national, peer-led suicide prevention and mental health promotion program,” said Dorothy Turner, prevention specialist for Bellaire High School. “Its approach is often called ‘upstream prevention,’ as students and adult advisors work together to build connections, encourage healthy coping, and make it easier for young people to reach out to a trusted adult before a crisis occurs. At Bellaire High School, our student leaders share those messages with their peers through activities and campaigns throughout the year.
Senior Marley Higgs said the walk is aimed at reducing the stigma attached to mental health issues.
“And to let people know we can come together as a community and help work out our grievances and promote good relationships and good mental health,” she said.
Higgs said having community members participate is important, too.
“I feel like we have a beautiful community park and we never get the chance to use it for anything,” she said. “This is one of the things we can do.”
Higgs said she and fellow students could talk more about mental health, but often focus on their daily lives and events.
“It’s usually something that is brushed to the side. … Nobody gets to sit and talk and just get together and see that there’s more than just the happiness to it,” Higgs said. “There’s more stuff, especially kids our age, that we have to deal with. It’s not always going to be … ‘Did you go to the football game?’ There are some people who can’t bring themselves to get out of bed in the morning. So, we just want to bring those situations and those emotions to light and make people feel more comfortable.”
Junior I’Yona Cash said she wanted to participate in the walk because she wanted to show support for those who are struggling with mental health. She said she wanted to encourage those who are struggling or thinking about suicide to reach out to a friend or adult for help.
Turner deemed the event a success.
“It was meaningful to see students, staff, and community members come together for the walk. Their support showed our student leaders that people are listening and willing to stand alongside them. We hope every student who took part left knowing they belong, they have people they can turn to, and asking for help is a sign of strength,” Turner said following the walk.