Number of Participants: 4
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $135
Event Type: Health & Safety
Sport: Other
Date: October 31, 2018
Location:
Manhasset
NY, USA
About:
The Manhasset Secondary School CASA Healthy Living Club has its sights set on helping students to live healthy, productive lives, both emotionally and physically.
The CASA Healthy Living Club is currently brainstorming initiatives to promote the mental health and well-being in students. This includes organizing yoga classes during lunch periods and other events for Mental Health Wellness Week this November. They also just launched a “Teen Talk” forum to provide teens with a safe space to cope with stress, as well as learn stress reduction techniques and alternatives to substance use/abuse. In addition, the forum will allow them to discuss social issues and other pertinent topics that are important to them.
In recognition of World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10), the club held a schoolwide “Chalk Out” to help end the stigma associated with mental health issues. Students decorated the sidewalks around their school with positive messages and images to promote mental health and well-being. These messages are meant to convey the importance of seeking mental health assistance when psychological conditions, or any other emotionally distressing concerns (bullying, substance abuse, suicide prevention, etc.), are present. Chalk was made available to any student wishing to participate.
“The students had a great time using their creativity to spread the message and encourage everyone to seek help if they are struggling with mental health conditions or concerns,” said Manhasset Secondary School social worker and CASA Healthy Living Club adviser Doris Rogers. “Non-participating students who walked by had huge smiles on their faces and took their time to read the messages and look at the drawings as they inquired about how to join future events.”
Rogers said the staff found the activity uplifting as well. Kudos to club member Sophia Hill for coming up with the idea for “Chalk Out,” and club secretary Sydney Ginsburg who played an integral part in organizing and promoting the event.
The Manhasset Secondary School CASA Healthy Living Club is the student branch of the Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse, which serves as a community resource to reduce the illegal, underage use of alcohol, tobacco, prescription and other drugs in the community by connecting with parents, school, community and youth as partners in this common goal.