Celebrating Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and University School of Milwaukee students and faculty highlighted it by hosting several fun events throughout this past week. Members of the Upper School REDgen student chapter folded and hid hundreds of paper doves throughout the school to lift spirits, build community, and promote mental health awareness. Students were invited to find as many doves as possible and turn them in in exchange for a raffle ticket and a chance to win small prizes. The grade level that found the most doves won an out-of-uniform day. Students were also able to scan QR codes that linked to resources for mental health awareness.

USM’s Middle School also held a variety of events during resilience week, including writing positive messages in chalk in the front circle, a yoga session during recess, a bake sale to support local youth mental health organizations, a nature walk, and a special dress day to highlight mental health and REDgen.

Many thanks to REDgen student chapter co-leaders Nicholas Hu ’23 and Ellie Rottier ’22, as well as Upper School Counselor Lizzy Perry and Middle School faculty members and REDgen student chapter co-facilitators Elina Kats and Sandi Deshur, for their work to make these events happen.

About REDgen
REDgen is a Milwaukee organization that promotes and advocates for youth mental health and well-being, and USM is one of its partners. For the past five years, USM has partnered with REDgen to host speaker series events throughout the school year, in which nationally and internationally renowned experts speak on a variety of topics, including child care, resilience, parenting, and more. Speaker series events are free and open to the public.