Students at Carver E&S “Speak Up” about mental health
By: Jada Grant & Jennah Wilson
The 4th Speak Up event for students at Carver happened on Wednesday October 15th. Students were able to come together either as a peer leader or as someone who wanted to be a part of a session. It gave students who feel unheard a chance to talk about their feelings and thoughts with peers they relate to.
According to Martie Bernicker, the Director of Speak Up, Speak Up’s whole goal at Carver was to help young students feel heard by the people around them and help them feel like they aren’t alone and that there are also other people around who deal with similar issues.
“So his wish was that it would be easier for young people to be open and honest with the important adults in their lives and be themselves. And that was really the genesis for Speak Up.” Bernicker said
Teacher, Ryan Rousse, at Carver E&S has been involved with Speak Up because she believes in its mission.
“So initially I was talked into it by another staff member, but I’ve continued to do it year after year, just again to give students an opportunity to be heard, and an opportunity to put them in positions of leadership so that they feel empowered to effectively and respectfully speak up.” Rousse said
Students and teachers from Carver gather in a breakout session to talk about the seriousness of mental health.
Student Lana Martinez, E&S senior, believes that Speak Up helps students who have a hard time expressing themselves to people.
“I feel like especially this breakout room, can really help with students mental health, because it gives students a safe space, even if it’s not a teacher that they like or students that they like, it’s people that they know will be able to have facilitated conversations without getting aggressive or without getting personal because it’s still student and school ran” Martinez said
“To have their voices heard and to make sure that the issues that students are concerned about gets a forum to be discussed, so that students can find allies and just get things off their chest.” Rousse said
“It shows them that they have a community and it can show them that they’re not alone with whatever they’re going through, and no matter how hard life may get, you know that there’s someone else in your corner that knows what you’re going through.”
“Since it’s not always easy to recognize when young people are struggling, we rely on them to tell us so we can offer the right kind of help. SpeakUp! makes that possible by creating a safe space where young people can openly and honestly discuss important topics without fear of judgment with supportive adults who are ready to listen.” SpeakUp.org
Some wise words from Martie Bernicker for the students who participated in Speak Up and the students out there who are afraid to speak up.
“You don’t have to do life perfectly. You don’t have to do it alone, and it’s not a straight line.” Bernicker said
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