As we approach the one-month checkpoint of school for Pascack Hills students, we also welcome the beginning of October. The first week of October is National Mental Illness Awareness Week, a dedicated time for us to recognize and spread awareness as to the battles our peers may face every day. Although we should acknowledge this every week of the year, this week especially, let’s work to embolden each other and build a stigma-free environment at Hills. 

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in every five Americans silently endures living with a mental health condition. With the unprecedented hardships which we have faced these past two years, returning back to ‘normal life’ is bound to cause some obstacles. 

Many Hills students have agreed that this past month was different, to say the least, for them and others they’ve talked to. Despite the fact that returning to school is a step forward for the community, many students feel overwhelmed with the sudden change. Since the last time school was held this way, with the exception of masks, everyone has changed – whether it be on a personal, social, or academic level. This is something that we constantly must remind ourselves, maintaining patience and understanding to each other, for both our classmates and teachers. 

Something we all tend to forget about is upholding our well-being. We all get so wrapped up in what’s happening around us that we fail to recognize when something is wrong. There is no shame whatsoever in taking care of yourself first, for it’s the mature thing to do. Putting yourself in the right headspace to carry out basic things, such as school, should be your first priority.

As for your peers, this week let’s focus especially on how we treat others. As we’ve all heard many times, “You never know what someone is going through.” When you’re at your worst, the last thing you need is for your problems to be pushed aside. This week, let’s continue to construct a stigma-free environment at Hills. 

If you’d like to join PH Cares, a club constantly working to reach this goal of a safe environment, please reach out to Ms. Gaeta or Mrs. Sachs-Serfess!

Find out more here:

https://www.learningforjustice.org/the-moment/october-1-2021-recognize-mental-illness-awareness-week 

https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month