Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month: May 2023
Mental health wellness is an essential part of the overall health and well-being of both our students and staff. Mental health challenges affect all of us and the way we think, feel and act.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re spreading awareness about what’s available to help staff and students. For a list of resources, visit these pages on our website:
For our educators and staff, the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides counseling, webinars and other services and resources to promote the health, safety and well-being of public service employees.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or mental distress, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Know that you are not alone.
Josh Agpalza: Being open to mental health wellness
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, SBLSD Equity Director Josh Agpalza shared his own story about when he had to put his mental health first.
It started back in January 2021, after he returned to work from being sick. An assistant principal at Sumner High School at the time, he started having negative thoughts that wouldn’t go away. Every day felt like a struggle. When his heart began to race one day while at work, he didn’t realize at the time that it was a panic attack.
With support from both his family and his work colleagues, Josh was able to find help that he still uses to this day.
Read his full story here.
Mental Health America
See more resources below from Mental Health America, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. Find more resources at mhanational.org/may.
- What is mental health wellness?
- What plays a role in developing mental health conditions?
- Maintaining good mental health
- Recognizing when you need help with your mental health
- What to do when you need help
- A daily calendar of activities to take care of your mental health
MHAM 2022
Hundreds gather for Mental Health Awareness event for resources, hope
About 200 people attended the May 23 Mental Health Awareness event at Sumner High School, where they had the opportunity to talk with representatives from 11 local mental health resource agencies, view a feature-length documentary about suicide awareness, and listen to a six-member panel of mental health professionals about how youth, parents and the community can best support those in crisis.
“Depression is not a sign of weakness and it’s not something you’ve done wrong.”
How one SBLSD school counselor took time off to take care of her own mental health
One of our own District counselors took time off to take care of her mental health after she began experiencing anxiety and depression both at work.
"I have to take care of myself to take care of others,” she said.
Click here to read more about her story.
Emily's story: 'Talking about it is what we can do.'
Emily Jensen loves to learn - but it hasn't always been easy. Throughout most of her life, Emily struggled with her mental health, due to factors both inside and outside of the classroom. Emily was able to find the help she needed and graduated in 2020 through SBLSD's Elhi Hill High School Program. Now, she wants to help other students like her.
Community Event: Resource Fair, Documentary Showing, Panel Q&A
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District is hosting a community Mental Health Awareness Event on May 23 at Sumner High School in partnership with Kids' Mental Health Pierce County and Coordinated Care to provide information and resources about mental health and mental health conditions.
Myths & Facts
- Myth: A mental health concern must be diagnosed with a mental health condition.
- Myth: Mental Health concerns don’t affect school age students.
- Myth: There is nothing I can do for an individual who is experiencing a mental health concern.
- Myth: It is impossible to prevent mental health problems.
- Myth: Schools do not play an important role in supporting students with mental health concerns.