May/June Awareness Months
By Sophie Rickers ‘27, Staff Writer; Edited by Isla Poustie ‘26, Staff Editor
Mental Health Awareness Month - May
May Mental Health Awareness Month was initially celebrated in the United States in 1949 and is now acknowledged globally. The aim is to inform individuals about mental wellness, decrease stigma, and motivate those who might be having difficulties to seek assistance or support.
For students, various elements can influence mental well-being. These include academic stress, assessments, relationships, family troubles, athletics, online platforms, and future planning. Although stress is a natural aspect of life, consistent and ongoing stress or anxiety can affect an individual's mood, sleep quality, focus, and general health.
Mental Health Awareness Month highlights that mental health deserves the same level of attention as physical health. Similarly to how students seek a doctor for a broken arm or sickness, it’s crucial to communicate with a reliable adult, counsellor, or mental health expert when emotional difficulties become too intense to deal with on your own. Ridley offers several services, such as counselling or meetings at the health center, to help deal with any problems that might arise in daily school life. Even minor daily routines can lead to change, such as sufficient sleep, regular exercise, reducing screen usage, having nutritious meals, and keeping in touch with supportive friends.
Overall, Mental Health Month emphasizes that asking for help is okay and nothing to be ashamed of, especially when you are a high school student and dealing with a million different things all at the same time.
Pride Month – June
June is observed globally as Pride Month, a period focused on acknowledging and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. The month celebrates the history, accomplishments, and continuous struggle for equality and human rights for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Pride Month was established following the Stonewall Uprising in New York City in June 1969. Throughout this period, individuals from the LGBTQ+ community demonstrated against unjust treatment and discrimination, igniting a movement that marked a significant turning point in the struggle for equal rights. Currently, Pride Month acts as a celebration and reminder that numerous individuals continue to encounter discrimination in various regions globally.
During June, towns and neighbourhoods host Pride parades, cultural festivals, concerts, educational activities, and initiatives that encourage acceptance and inclusion. Numerous individuals fly rainbow flags, which have evolved into a representation of pride, diversity, and solidarity among the LGBTQ+ community.
Although Mental Health Awareness Month and Pride Month focus on different issues, they share similar goals and ideas that emphasize acceptance, reducing stigma, and supporting people who may feel misunderstood or alone. This is an important idea that is supported by several clubs here at Ridley, which try to raise awareness on a day-to-day basis, through fundraisers, car washes or educational Instagram posts.
