Football players, the band, cheerleaders and the student TroZone section will all be wearing something green or purple on their uniforms - the colors of Mental Health. Fans are also encouraged to wear something green or purple to support the effort.
A signature event prior to the football game will be a Hawaiian-themed luau for TK students only hosted by the Mental Health Club and the TK Student Council. This is a free event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria prior to the game. At the luau, students will receive many free items from the community and have the chance to win other prizes. Desserts, including ice-cream sundaes, will be served. This event is FREE for all TKHS students. Students must bring their student ID to enter the luau.
“We want to make sure every student feels like they belong and that everybody understands there is support available,” said Scott Aldrich, the Mental Health Club advisor.
Aldrich said the goal of the night’s event is to recognize and support people within the school and community who are struggling with mental health and to promote mental wellness for the TK student body. In general, the Mental Health club is working to remove the stigma surrounding mental health and make sure everyone knows there is help available.
During the game, there will be announcements about mental health and the stadium will be decorated with mental health ribbons and affirmations. Thanks to the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority, there will also be literature about mental health resources available at the game. The BCCMHA also made donations for prizes at the student luau.
The Mental Health Club, now in its second year, has doubled in membership already from eight last year to 16 so far this year, representing all four grade levels in the high school. All of the members this year are new since all eight members last year graduated.
“We had some really outstanding seniors last year who came back during the summer to help us plan and get this group started,” said Aldrich.
“The big picture goal is to change the culture of the school so that everyone feels they belong and are supported and that has to come from the students,” said Aldrich. “We want to remove the stigma of not being OK, to it’s OK to not be OK and to ask for help.”