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In the world we\u2019re currently living in, health has become a center point of most conversations. Obviously, people are concerned with their physical health due to the ongoing pandemic, but after months of quarantining and no end in sight, mental health seems to be a side thought. In an effort to try and address the mental toll this pandemic may be taking on fellow students at Grace, Bella Johnson \u201822 recently started the Mental Wellness Affinity Space in which she hopes to, \u201cmake a space as welcoming, supportive, and non-judgmental as possible.\u201d The meetings, which take place weekly, consist of student-led conversations about their feelings and experiences with the hope to try and generate more awareness towards mental health at 46 Cooper Square. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tNot long after the first meeting, which took place on September 21st, I reached out to Bella asking her about the origins of the club and why this was an issue she wanted to explore. In her words, she said \u201cI started this club because mental health is something I am very passionate about, and it is something so many teenagers struggle with in silence, especially during quarantine, and I feel like a safe mental health support group was needed for those who don\u2019t want to suffer in silence anymore.\u201d When questioned about the longevity of the Mental Health Affinity Space in the aftermath of COVID-19, particularly the virtual learning and quarantine aspects, Bella added that she plans to, \u201ccontinue this [club] even after COVID-19 because even if COVID-19 were to go away, mental health is still a prominent topic, something many people have unfortunately struggled with even before the virus.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After their inaugural affinity space meeting, Bella spoke about how she considered it to be \u201cvery successful\u201d and said, \u201cthe topic of mental health tends to create a sense of unity, especially during this time when unity is more important than ever.\u201d Mental health, especially in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, affects people\u2019s health not only physically, but also mentally. This past July, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) published an article re-emphasizing Bella\u2019s reason to start her affinity space, with the organization recognizing how \u201cfear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.\u201d They continued on, saying \u201cpublic health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. However, these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bella\u2019s efforts are beneficial to every student at Grace, whether they realize it or not. Everyone struggles with mental health and the most important thing to do to address that struggle is to talk about it openly. The Mental Health Affinity Space offers that opportunity for necessary dialogue and has proven to be exactly what Grace needs in a time like this because while often given minor attention, maintaining proper mental health is a massive part of our ability to operate in a stable mindset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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