At Wauwatosa West High School, Mental Health Awareness week at the end of May extends beyond classrooms and presentations–it begins with simple, tangible items placed directly into students’ hands. Although a sticker or fidget toy may seem small compared to the widespread challenges of mental health, these objects serve as meaningful conversation starters and visible reminders that support is available.
By turning invisible struggles into visible symbols of awareness, Tosa West’s mental health initiative demonstrates that breaking down stigma starts with small community-centered actions. These everyday gestures encourage connection, spark important conversations, and help create a culture of understanding and support throughout the school.
For all members of the Tosa West community working to maintain positive mental health, this little symbol represents our collective efforts to support mental health.
Sophomore Mia Sparacino puts a green ribbon sticker on her sweatshirt during lunch. A basket of stickers were available for students to share. “Mental Health is important because it proves you’re not alone” said Sparacino
Wearing a green ribbon sticker during Mental Health Awareness Month is a symbol of support, awareness, and advocacy for mental health and can can help reduce the negative stigma about mental health and help it become more accepted.
The availability and access to the stickers shows that mental health matters and the students in school support it.
A simple sticker is more than a sticker. Its a symbol that shows people they can reach out.
The stickers are just one symbol representing mental health supports. Throughout the year students have participated in over a dozen mental health support lessons.
“Mental health is shown through the advisory lessons here, by giving tips on how to regulate emotions and cope and know that there’s someone at Tosa West that can help you. I think mental health is very relevant in today’s society especially in social media; there’s a lot of stigma around stereotypes and especially body image”. said Senior Jessica Thompson.
As part of the week of activities, students were able to participate in several activities in the school garden that included basic gardening activities like picking weeds and planting new seeds.
The Wauwatosa West’s Green Team sponsored the event and is a club that works on the school’s outdoor garden and works on hydroponics, a way to grow plants without soil. Many people joined Social Studies teacher Heidi Hegwood on May, 21st to garden during lunch.
Students worked together in a school garden, planting and caring for flowers and vegetables while collaborating outdoors. This activity can promote team work, hands on learning, and a connection to nature.
Students can use this time and space to clear their head and not have to think for a while and just garden with friends.
Students from the Green Team and Wellness Club collaborated to tend to the schools garden near the Center St. entrance. Surprisingly, they harvested lettuce and tended to their flowers. “When life feels overwhelming, I plant something. Watching it grow reminds me that I can too.”- Adeline Russell
During this time, they were able to pick out old weeds and plants, add soil and rocks to planters, and help clean up the garden overall.
Gardening is helpful for many people’s mental health because it lets people be alone with their thoughts while being outside.
In the Green Team’s eyes, gardening can give you a peace of mind while also allowing you to care and nurture for something.
“The Green Team is an all inclusive group and is a great way to get your hands dirty and connect with the earth and just decompress”-Mrs. Hegwood, Advisor of the Green Team.
During Tosa West’s mental health week, the Green Team and wellness club joined together to support mental health by gardening during lunch.
Students were able to go outside and garden peacefully with others. Gardening can bring people together while supporting mental health and getting fresh air during school.
Tosa West takes mental health to a whole new level by offering different options for help and different activities to improve your mental health.
Later during the mental health week at Tosa West, some students took a field trip to the Urban Ecology center. Students had time to to sit and relax looking at the various types of plants.
During this time, the outdoor green spaces can support mental health by providing a calm environment for relaxation and social connection.
Throughout this field trip participants got to spend time in nature to reduce stress, improve mood, and create a sense of belonging.
Two 9th grade students participated on the trip. “The garden and the plants gives me a nice space where I can clear my thoughts and feel more at peace.”
Alongside the field trips, Wauwatosa West offers many resources inside the building as well to help create a space of safety, comfort, and support.
“The stigma is real and unless It is talked about and normalized, that stigma hurts us all” said Secondary Mental Health Specialist Sarah Labonte
Labonte, West’s mental health specialist has created digital and tangible ways for the students here to support and recognize mental health and its struggles.
These resources consist of the calm cafe which is a quiet and safe space you can go to to recharge during both A and B lunch, the virtual calm room on Class Link, where you can find calming music, coloring, breathing strategies, puzzles/brain breaks and more.
