Our Rise Above It event took place at New Palestine Intermediate on September 28th, 2021 on a Tuesday. Leading up to this event on Monday we met with guidance, assigned roles to our student volunteers and put data on spreadsheets with all the information for the event. On the day of the event my teammates and I went to to the school at 3:30 to get set up. The event was from 4:30-8:30 so before the vendors got there we set up tables and made sure all the items were there for the different tables. There were sandwiches catered in boxes with chips, a cookie and fruit for a box dinner. We went around to the people working the vendors and asked if they wanted food and handed them their rise above it shirts. After that we stood out in the hall to try to direct people to come to the breakout sessions on different mental health topics. The sessions included: depression/suicide, anxiety, self regulation, mind and body, vaping/smoking, social media and substance abuse. Each session was timed to last about 30 mins. I was assigned to 3 of the 4 sessions to work and help the presenter. During the session I wasn't working I went to listen to one of the sessions I hadn't heard so I could learn some more information. All of the presenters did great and I learned so much. There was a big turnout for the event in general. I saw many people in the gym picking up resources and papers from vendors and multiple adults and teens in the breakout sessions. After the event we helped clean up and then we went home. It was super successful! It was incredible to see so many people coming out to learn about mental health and to stand together to fight the stigma of mental health. This was such a fun service project and I look forward to doing more projects that help others!
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I am Naomi Worth and I decided to start a mental health project. I've always been passionate about mental health and advocating for it especially more so these past few years. I have had very real experiences with people around me and struggles of mental health. I have lost people to suicide and know people who have also lost people to suicide. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had deal with and comprehend. This really shocked me and I couldn't understand how someone could be hurting and struggling so much that they felt the only choice was to end their life. Mental health is incredibly important. It affects everyone of all ages, backgrounds, upbringings etc. It is something that is not talked about and kind of a taboo subject. It is an extremely hard discussion but a very necessary one. In my personal life I know a lot of people that struggle with mental health and myself included. I see a lot of mental health issues within the world and specifically in my high school. While I don't see a lot of bullying which can have huge effects on mental health, I see and witness a lot of exclusion and gossiping. These are some of the things that really can affect people's lives that people don't think about often. I hope to change this. I hope to make people feel welcomed and included. You only know a little bit about what's going on in someone's personal life so the best thing we can all do is just be kind. I hope to help educate people on mental health and be someone who people can have open and honest conversation with regarding subjects. I want to make sure we limit suicide and let people know they are never alone.With all of my goals, I talked with my group members who also had similar passions and we sat down and started discussing what we could possibly do. Administration presented a project to our entire class that just so happened to be a mental health project. It was perfect. It incorporated all of our passions together. Rise Above It is a community event that focuses on providing resources for mental health problems and also preserving mental health. It includes many vendors, break out sessions and open conversation. My group members and I decided to take this on and work alongside guidance and administration. Our proposal and pitch day was pretty simple since this was a project guidance handed us. We didn't have a whole lot of planning to do so it was pretty simple. The event is held September 28th at New Pal Intermediate so up until then we will be gathering volunteers, making goody bags and getting the word out about the event. It was a little nerve racking presenting to administration and peers since we want everyone to like and approve of our ideas and passions. We got a lot of positive feedback which really helped us stay confident and on track with the project. I am super excited for this event and all the benefits and rewards that will come from it!
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