Students Take the Lead in Second Annual Wellness Event

April 19, 9-12 graders are invited to attend the district’s second annual Student Wellness Event at the WILC. It will take place on April 19 on the early out from 1:30-3:30. The event is tailored around activities that support the mind and body. This includes yoga, a blender bike, and stretching activities for those itching to get moving. There will also be several therapists available to work with students through grounding techniques, mindfulness, and other ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Resources for coping with and quitting vaping and cannabis will be available as well as treatment options for substance abuse. 

Not only does this event provide exceptional resources and help, but they are also giving out multiple prizes throughout the event. Every student who attends will receive a bingo card and win movie tickets for every bingo. There will be a grand prize drawing for gym memberships and training sessions, as well as two 23-24 student activity, passes given away to one northside and southside student. 

Although there are amazing prizes being given away, that is not the only reason to attend this event. There is an increasing number of students experiencing mental health struggles. After the pandemic, the number of high schoolers with mental health struggles skyrocketed. According to the Healthy Minds Study performed by the American Physiological Association, during the 2020-2021 school year, more than 60% of students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem; they collected data from 373 schools nationwide. This further stresses the fact that teenagers need professional help and resources. This event is an amazing opportunity for Waukee high schoolers to connect with de-stressors, people, and techniques to help them work through tough times. 

This is the second year of the Waukee Mental Health Event. However, it is the first year it will be student-led. Students part of the APEX Health Sciences program are in charge of making the event happen this year. The WHS Student Council and NWHS RAK group are also supporting the event. This is a huge deal considering students are in charge of helping other students. 

Ashley Oswald, a senior in APEX, expressed the importance of this event. “I think that it’s important to have an event where students are the main focus. It is about helping keep everyone aware and educated about situations and daily obstacles we all go through or experience,” she said. 

The event will include topics not usually mentioned in school settings. These topics include vaping, body and food relationships, addiction, and gambling. This year it was a goal to make the event student-focused, and relatable. “I think the students will relate to vaping, food and body relationships, and gambling the most,” Oswald said.  “Having Tariq, Tyler, and I as a part of this event has made it even more student-focused and more comfortable. We actually are going through what everyone else our age is, so we’re able to add extra input to make the event even more personable.” 

Students running the event will make it more effective and worth attending. Quinn Monson, a student part of the Waukee Student Council urged all high schoolers to attend this event.  “People tend to overlook their mental health,” Monson said.  “This event is a fun way to help learn about mental health and ways you can take care of it.” 

Whether you’re struggling with school, friends, family, sports, or more serious issues like addiction, or body and food relationships, mental health problems can take many forms. This event can lead you in the right direction to overcome these everyday challenges. No teenager should feel alone with nobody to reach out to when times are tough. This event is here to give students help and resources to better their relationships with themselves and the people around them.