Happy Mental Health Awareness Month from Team OMM🥳 As we continue through the rest of this month, we encourage you to raise awareness and take action for your mental health and those in your community.
To kick off Mental Health Awareness Month on May 1, Knights Minds Matter (KMM) at Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., hosted their annual Wellness Walk. The school-wide event invited staff and students to engage in “walk and talk” discussions, bridging the gap between physical activity and mental health. Over 300 Ballou staff, students, and community members attended. Of them, about 270 attendees received special wristbands for completing four laps around the track.
“Our goal is to normalize conversations around mental health while empowering our student ambassadors to lead the charge in transforming our school culture into one that is supportive, informed, and—most importantly—fun,” said Melissa Jackson, KMM club sponsor.
The event also featured a variety of other community organizations, resources, and interactive stations. KMM club leaders facilitated mental health Q&A discussions and handed out buttons and wristbands.💚 Our Minds Matter staff also hosted a table featuring our We Belong Week Signature Campaign! We Belong Week encourages students to build social connections through various activities, including suggesting ways to make their school community more welcoming.
The day gave students the chance to learn more about school and community resources, make friends, and explore physical activity as self-care. Attendees walked to music from a live DJ, and received additional information on youth mental health workshops from 93.9 WKYS Radio. A nutrition station also provided water, lunch, and snacks like granola bars and fruit to keep their energy up throughout the event!
Club leaders shared that the annual walk and other similar school-wide events help students who may not join their club feel seen and supported. These spaces allow student leaders to connect with their peers and practice leadership skills while engaging with more of their peers. Senior KMM leader Promise Parraway said that she hopes the club can inspire more students to be mental health advocates.
“I want them to understand the ‘why’ behind mental health awareness so they can effectively challenge stigmas and support one another long after they leave Ballou,” Parraway said.
To close out the school year, KMM will be hosting its End-of-Year Reflection Gathering, where club members can decompress and bond over food.
“It’s a dedicated space for them to share their hopes and dreams for the future, ensuring every member feels like a valued and essential part of the Knights Minds Matter family,” said Euniqe Davis, a 10th-grade leader.
Thank you to Knights Minds Matter for leading such meaningful mental health initiatives for your school community. We look forward to seeing all that you have in store for next year!🙂
A special thank you for supporting Our Minds Matter in Washington, DC Public Schools goes to the American Psychiatric Association Foundation; if: a Foundation for Radical Possibility; The J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Kettering Family Foundation; The MATTIE Fund; Risa Fund; Rosendin Foundation; Van Metre Companies; and our supporter community of mental health champions like you.