By KENDRA BURDICK and ALEX VERDUZCO

WARNING: This article talks about some sensitive topics involving mental health

Redlands East Valley High School is actively raising awareness and trying to dismantle the false stigma surrounding mental health through an annual fair. The Mental Health Awareness Club on campus hosted a mental health fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1:09 p.m. on May 3 in the main quad. This Mental Health Fair was available to all REV students and welcomed teachers to bring their classes for a walk-through of the booths and what they had to offer. Booths from different clubs and organizations dedicated to informing high school students about mental health are scattered around the outskirts of the textbook room and library stairs.

Wildcat Pride Association

The campus pride club, Wildcat Pride Association, sets up its booth for the fair to help students understand the fake myths and the real truths behind the LGBTQ+ community and their mental health. 

They informed the students and staff that wanted to know more about the facts and myths involving the LGBTQ+ community.

Myths:

1. Homosexuality is a choice.
2. Being LGBTQ+ is an issue and can be cured
3. Teaching students about this subject makes them gay
4. LGBTQ+ people make bad parents
5. You can identify an LGBTQ+ person by their mannerisms, clothing, and physical appearance

Facts:

1. One out of every two people a part of the LGBTQ+ community experience depression
2. Three out of every five people a part of the LGBTQ+ community experience anxiety
3. One out of every eight members of the LGBTQ+ community experience unequal treatment from health care staff because they are LGBTIQ+. One in seven have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination
4. Homosexual behavior occurs in over 500 species of animals

Such as koala bears, penguins, seagulls, etc.

5. One of every two transgendered individuals has considered taking their own life
6. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at a greater risk of experiencing hate crime compared to heterosexual people
7. Sexual orientation is caused by factors such as genetics and the sociology of the brain

Coping Skills

The main thing that this booth was handing out was sheets of paper with a list of different coping skills which were divided into three main categories, distractions, cognitive coping, and tension releasers.

Distractions:

• Clean or organize environment
• Dance
• Doodle on paper
• Read

Cognitive coping:

• Brainstorm solutions
• Think of something funny
• Write a list of goals
• Visualize your favorite place

Tension Releasers:

• Chew gum
• Cry
• Laugh
• Stretch

Mariana Cota, a senior in charge of the ‘Coping Skills’ booth states, “I think that this fair is definitely helping people such as our booth which helps to inform people about different coping techniques so that no one does anything negative because of their mental health. I believe that coping skills help people who take care of their mental health or not, though it’s really bad if they don’t. This whole fair is to promote mental health and the stigma around it because there’s a lot of stigma.”

BSU

“Our booth is talking about how mental health in the black community is very stigmatized and has a very negative connotation around it. So our goal is to bring some light on it and normalize it because I personally feel that it’s not normalized right now even though it should be because it’s something that everyone goes through. It’s also very toxic to push people down because they have mental issues.” Reymarr Bernier, the senior president of BSU continues to talk about the thoughts behind the school’s help in promoting mental health.

“I feel like the mental health club is doing a lot to help bring awareness and to help mental health but that’s not really a part of the school so I don’t really think that the school’s doing stuff about it, more so the students are trying to help each other,” states Bernier.

Mental Health Awareness Club

“Personally, I found out things about mental health that I’ve never known before simply just walking around the quad and visiting other people’s booths. I think it’s good for everyone to be informed and know that everyone is going through something and everyone has different struggles but there are ways to help. I also feel that there should be other ways to get people informed about mental health and ways to cope through social media. I believe that venting and communicating is the best way to help your mental health and having support groups to talk to.” Olmos is a senior and a proud member of and attending the Mental Health Awareness Club’s booth.