‘Healthy You’ will focus on mental health at Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — Mental health is an important topic for Mt. Pleasant High School guidance counselor Ashlei Venghaus, who helps teens cope with their mental health issues daily. In fact, Venghaus has devoted much of her work toward teaching high schoolers coping mechanisms, mental health facts and trying to break the stigma around it.

This year, Venghaus decided that a day of learning about mental health, coping strategies and other topics surrounding mental health would help students prepare themselves for life after high school.

“I want the kids to take something from this day that would help their mental health. We have such a critical time in kids’ lives because they are either going off in a career or college, and they are going to be adults soon,” Venghaus said. “So this is kind of our last chance to instill those strategies that they can use to help their mental health.”

Healthy You 2021 will be the first time that the high school has hosted an all-day event surrounding mental health. The event was originally planned to happen in 2020 but due to the COVID-19 lockdown was pushed back a year.

Now the event is taking place Wednesday at the high school. This includes five sessions in addition to an assembly where keynote speaker Parnell Davis will address the student body.

Davis is a community organizer for Youth for Christ who aims to help through community action, fundraising and direct support. He helps students build relationships with themselves, others and even spiritually if they need it.

Davis grew up in a not-so-great background. Coming from poverty, his choices were limited, and he had to fight to get where he is. Now he is an ultimate fighter as well as a community organizer, giving him a special way to connect with students.

Venghaus chose Davis to be the keynote due to his charisma, saying that she feels he can connect with students.

“I wanted someone who would be at the kids’ level because that’s important to me, and he could relate with the majority of our kids,” Venghaus said.

Sessions will include appearances from 37 speakers from Southeast Iowa that deal with mental health. There will be sessions hosted by local doctors, religious figures, community organizations, mental health professionals, grief counselors, music therapists and more.

They will speak on a variety of topics including LGBTQ+, people in crisis, diversity and inclusion, coping mechanisms, what to expect when you bring up concerns at the doctor and other issues involving mental health.

“I wanted to choose different people that would connect with different kids and what they’re going through because I wanted this day to be impactful,” Venghaus said.

“High school is stressful as it is; with activities, jobs, and other things on their plate. If this is something that can resonate that is my goal,” Venghaus added.