Mental health is a major issue in high schools today. Junior Alex Kennedy decided to start a club that can help students struggling with mental health called Active Minds. “My hope and future plan is that this club is able to decrease the percentage of students dealing with anxiety, depression, or another issue or disorder, even if it is by one percent,” Kennedy said.

The club has had one interest meeting and with a great turn out of about 30 students. Kennedy went to the ASB/senate and was approved for the club. The plan is for the club to meet monthly and provide a friendly environment for all students. Kennedy wants Active Minds to be a club that educates people on mental health issues, breaks the stigma of mental health and that brings students together and help them realize they aren’t alone with any issues they may face. “I believe that together we can make a difference and stop this issue from further destroying the lives of our student body struggling with these issues,” Kennedy said.

This club is advised by two of our school counselors Ms. Weimar and Ms. Amador. Because mental health is a serious issue, the advisors of Active Minds are professionals who can help students. “I wanted to start this club because I wanted something to support the student body that is either struggling or knows someone who is struggling with a mental health issue,” Kennedy said.

This club is personal to Kennedy. He experienced mental health issues and he wants to bring something to the school that can help the students also struggling. “From my life, I have dealt with OCD, PTSD, nonverbal learning disabilities, anxiety and depression, and unfortunately I didn’t have too many people to talk to when I was growing up,”  Kennedy said.

Active Minds club can be a space were students can open up and talk about their struggles if and when they feel comfortable to do so. Kennedy believes mental health is something that must be discussed, and students shouldn’t have to keep any problems they face to themselves. “Mental health is a very difficult subject to talk about with many people, but I do feel like it should be discussed because if it isn’t, people will continue to suffer in silence,” Kennedy said.