I was able to attend our second Gray Matters meeting of the year. Haley DeGreve was able to come speak and spread knowledgeable information on mental health.
DeGreve thought up the idea of The Gray Matters Collective when overhearing students at her college having conversations about their own mental health in a school setting, which entails assignments that take a toll on your brain and ultimately drain you out over time if you don’t take care of your mental health properly. After what she encountered, DeGreve decided to build a small group that would spread the cause. Her and many others placed encouraging mental health posters all around campus to gain more supporters. Once she had a decent amount of people interested in her cause, she decided that she wanted to speak in front of the large group she had accumulated and also anyone else who would listen.
On the morning of her speech, there was a huge snowstorm, the roads were extremely slick with ice. When DeGreve walked into the lecture room, there were only a few people waiting, but that didn’t discourage her, and she started the speech anyway. A few minutes later, the lecture room was filled with hundreds of people that walked through ice and snow to learn about mental health, spread the cause, and ultimately be a part of a wonderful group with a deep-seated purpose.
Given this, we should be proud of the fact that Orion High School was the first school to include The Gray Matters Collective for students and faculty.
To honor suicide prevention month, there will be a march and memorial for all lives taken by suicide on September 17th, 2023 from 6-8pm at 407 East North Street Geneseo, Illinois 61254. Everyone is welcome to bring posters or signs for the march. After the march, there will be suicide loss speakers, performances, a light ceremony, and a resource fair. There will even be an extra credit opportunity for any health student who attends this event.
Our next meeting will be on September 20th, 2023 at 7:15 in Mrs. Feldott’s room. We hope to see you there!
