Every school year, more and more students are finding the courage to start conversations to change the culture around mental health in their schools. Whether on an individual or large scale, students are advocating for their peers and for themselves.

“Most of us struggle from stress or some other mental health [challenge] and we [wanted] to give […] students a day to chill out.” Leaders from UCEC Minds Matter shared about their event, ‘A Day for You’. Their club partnered local organizations such as Union County Behavioral Health, The Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, and South Piedmont Community College to organize a day of bracelet making, origami, speed friending, and resource sharing for their peers at Union County Early College in North Carolina.

Featuring sessions centered around coping skills, meditation, and risk reduction, ‘A Day for You’ was intended not just to relax students, but to bring awareness to both physical and mental health. With final exams, APs and the stress of finishing out the school year, we’d like to recognize the effort and dedication from UCEC Minds Matter, and all of our clubs who are creating space for their peers to chill!

To keep up with all the great work UCEC Minds Matter is doing, follow them on twitter @UCEarlyCollege.

[Image Description: (from top to bottom:) An adult stands in front of a projector screen presenting a slide that reads ‘Let’s Take a Breather’; Two students mix dough together to create DIY stress balls; UCEC Minds Matter posing together in front of a whiteboard]