Mental Health Summits first took place at State High in the year 2023, which operated on a two-hour delay schedule for all grades. This event was created for students to have fun, connect with the school community, and choose activities to participate in that benefit mental well-being. However, students, including myself, have created our own opinions on if this is helping us.
When attending this event, I see students talking to friends and sitting around. Questionably, I have to wonder if this was the intended purpose our school has made for our Mental Health Summits. Some students have fun while connecting with others, but usually, most of them do not choose an activity to participate in. In my opinion, it should be optional to participate in Mental Health Summits.
Personally, I enjoy the days we hold Mental Health Summits because it gives me a break from reality to connect with my friends. However, the activities I do not attend or participate in because they are not enjoyable or stick out to me. I have seen students roaming around and not participating either. It is always so crowded during these days because we are stuck in the hub, auditorium, cafeteria, and library. As a school that carries roughly 2,500 students, this limited space is not enough.
Additionally, I would like the opportunity of choice to participate in Mental Health Summits. Others would agree from what I have heard that we students would rather sleep in or have time to hang out with friends by ourselves, rather than go to a packed event.
Sophomore Agnes Albert gives a student perspective on Mental Health Summits while covering its purpose and awareness of mental health during the event.
“I think it’s nice that the school is doing it but I don’t know if it actually like does anything,” Albert said.
As for whether the mental health summit lives up to its purpose, Albert said “No, I don’t think it brings awareness to anything mental health related. We think of it just as like a fun time, and not actually what it’s supposed to be for”.
Albert gives information from an educational standpoint. Students do not fully understand the purpose of Mental Health Summits, which may also sway their opinions. It is a fun event, however it does not live up to its purpose.
Sophomore Shep Heim gives overall opinions on the Mental Health Summits. Heim shares his feelings about coming to the event and other options related to Mental Health Summits.
“I think it’s stupid. I think it’s dumb that they make us come to this. I think we should just get the time off,” Heim said.
He further added his feelings about being at the mental health summit. “No, I don’t want to be here,” Heim said.
Heim relays back to getting those two hours before school to himself instead of coming to a packed school. It is boring sitting around for two hours if you are not interested in the available activities. However, with negatives, positives also come out of this event.
Sophomore Dylan Briggs gives positivity towards the Mental Health Summits. As well as, talking about the emotions involved with his feelings through this event.
“Yes, I think this Mental Health Summit really digs deep into my emotions and makes me feel a lot better. it makes me feel so much better”.
Overall, the Mental Health Summit may not serve its intended purpose. However, it seems to be a very popular event that most look forward to because of the time to relax and hang out with friends. I believe that even though some students do not like this event, others do, so it should be an ongoing thing for many years to come. With some updates, I believe something even better could come out of Mental Health Summits.
