Student club promotes Mental Health Awareness

BRAWLEY — Mental illness is an ongoing battle that many confront every day. Kassy Nuñez, president of the Mental Health Awareness Club at Brawley Union High School, wanted to raise mental health awareness by advocating and bringing light to mental illnesses students at her school struggle with.

Last week the firstyear club held a Mental Health Awareness Spirit Week. Each day, students wore a different color in recognition of mental illnesses leading up to a poster reveal early Thursday morning.

The club held an anonymous survey during the school’s regular break period. The participating students checked off a list of mental illnesses that they have encountered throughout their lives.

“This week we have been spreading awareness about mental health (and) at the same time promoting our club,” said Nuñez, a senior.

Among the listed illnesses were depression and anxiety. At the end of the list there was an “other” option that allowed people to add another form of illness they had encountered that was not listed.

Over a period of two weeks, there was a total of 146 anonymous surveys submitted by students. A green ribbon represents mental health awareness, and for each submission the club added a green ribbon to a poster illustrating how common mental illnesses are among their fellow classmates. The poster also included a message reading, “You’re not alone. Talk about it,” in hopes of prompting the conversation about mental health.

The club member say they are here to help students overcome a struggle they could be going through.

“At the start, the goal of this was to help and spread awareness of an issue that is not easy to talk about, which is the reason why one must start the conversation,” Nuñez said.

The survey indicated that many students suffer with high levels of anxiety, followed by depression and eating disorders. Some students confided to club members that this club has made an impact on their life.

Mental Health Awareness week takes place in October, but struggling with an illness occurs year round. Nuñez, along with the 34 other members in Brawley Union’s Mental Health Awareness Club, decided to make it a spirit week in an effort to get more student involvement.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ “Caution, prevention, awareness, care and guidance” were some of the words club members in this photo mentioned when asked to describe what Mental Health Awareness meant to them.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ The Brawley Union High School Mental Health Awareness Club’s poster hangs outside the school on Jan. 31.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ FROM LEFT: Brawley Union High School seniors Gabby Vicuña, Kassy Nuñez, Zabdi Velasquez, Jennifer Gastelum and Mikayla Whitman moments prepare to give away free cookies to classmates during the school’s Mental Health Awareness Week last week.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ FROM LEFT: Imperial County Behavior Health Services Community Outreach members yazmin Fernandez, Joe Saenz and Erik Silva were on hand to provide students at BUHS with information on mental health awareness.

PHOTO ANDY VELEZ Brawley Union High School senior Lexi Tanori, a member of the Mental Health Awareness Club, helps hang the poster for the club’s Mental Health Awareness Week.