For the eighth year in a row, Del Val’s SADD Club ran its annual Stress-Less Week event. This year, SADD was joined by two other clubs, Students Advocating for Equality Club and Bring Change to Mind Club, because they all share similar goals: prioritizing student mental health.
During this week, club members pick a theme lasting all five days. This year’s message was “Let’s Taco ‘Bout Stress.”
The activities kicked off on March 2 during Unit Lunch, where there was a table outside the cafeteria displaying different fidgets, journals, stickers and candy for students and staff to take from.
“The goal of this event is to encourage students to focus on self care and coping strategies for stress,” Del Val social worker and BC2M adviser Christine Hons said. “High school students are still finding their coping skills, so emphasizing that it’s okay to talk about it and learn as a collective community is very important.”
This event aligns with the missions of these clubs as it revolves around the importance of educating students on developing healthy mechanisms to use in high-stress situations. For this reason, Stress-Less Week happens this time of the year for students to decompress right before state and AP testing.
“We’re trying to put out a message and put tools in your tool kit so you can cope with stress in a healthy way,” Heather Eckhardt, SADD Club adviser and student assistance counselor, said. “Not every method is going to work for you, so it’s about trying them out and finding the right one.”
Stress-Less Week is a time where everyone can reflect and take time to check up on their mental health. The activities these clubs shared with students give those who may not know much about mental health management a learning opportunity.
“It’s also about reducing the stigma around mental health because everything can be overwhelming for students,” Amanda Matlee, a mental health counselor and BC2M adviser, said. “We want students to take a moment to pause and try some of the coping skills shared.”
Some of the activities that student’s were able to participate in were window painting in C-Hall and in Terrier Way, a candy guessing game and a mandala painting competition.
Ava Figalora, a sophomore and SADD club member, encouraged students to take part in the activities planned for the week and utilize the resources provided.
“A lot of people deal with mental health problems and stress, so it’s good to do the activities and bring awareness to it,” Figalora said.
