Willowbrook Guidance Department hosts presentations to promote importance of mental health and break stigma of mental illness

Willowbrook School Counselor Kimberly Mikesell guides students through an interactive activity to discuss mental health. The presentations took place on Nov. 9 and 10 to promote the importance of mental health and to help break the stigma regarding mental illness.

Willowbrook School Counselor Kimberly Mikesell (left) and Willowbrook physical education teacher Rachel Karos display the mental health Zoom backgrounds Karos created for staff to show their support of this topic. Mikesell met with students on Nov. 9 and 10 to promote the importance of mental health and to help break the stigma regarding mental illness.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can wear on every resource – including mental health. On Nov. 9 and 10, Willowbrook School Counselor Kimberly Mikesell and Guidance Department intern Matt Renas spoke with students in nine health classes about this topic.

During the virtual presentations, they provided interactive activities to help students learn about mental illness and discussed signs/symptoms, available resources, coping skills and strategies. The goal and focus was to break the stigma regarding mental illness and to promote the importance of mental health. Willowbrook physical education teacher Rachel Karos also created mental health Zoom backgrounds for staff to show their support.