***This article was written by Chase Palm, a participant in The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
Mental health challenges are often considered a taboo topic. Problems persist, but people often ignore them. Thankfully, Gray Matters, a club at Kewanee High School, fights the mental health stigma every day.
Though it is led by KHS, Gray Matters is actually part of a parent organization founded by two students from Augustana College in Moline.
KHS’s Gray Matters chapter meets weekly to discuss ways to de-stigmatize mental health for everyone under the watchful eye of club advisor and junior English teacher Katherine Streicher.
“I went to Augustana College at the time when the original Gray Matters Mental Health Collective was created. I remember how empowered I felt to see so many people coming together to support one another in their mental health struggles,” Streicher said.
Streicher added that she wished something like KHS’s chapter existed when she was in high school, so she decided to start a chapter of the organization at Kewanee High School.
“It is incredibly important for students to focus on their mental health and to talk about it because so many students feel alone in their struggles and think that they have to fight alone,” she said.
To confirm that no one fights alone, the Gray Matters chapter recently arranged a photo campaign around the high school.
“We asked all students and staff to come take a photo holding a poster with a mental health-related message on it,” she said. “We had over 170 photos taken, and they are on display around the school.”
Streicher added that the club wants everyone to know that mental health isn’t something a person should be ashamed of. Instead, it should be openly discussed.
Gray Matters creates an inclusive environment at Kewanee High School, ensuring that staff members and students always know that it is okay to not be okay at times.
“In the spring semester, we plan to continue to spread mental health awareness around the school and to get more students involved so we can support as many people as possible,” said Streicher .
For more information on Gray Matters and its mission, go to https://thegraymatterscollective.com/
