Plainfield East High School students hold walk to promote mental health awareness

Plainfield East High School students participated in a mental health awareness walk during all physical education classes on October 3. The event was led by members of the Bengal Athletic Leadership Council (BALC), who played music, distributed green ribbons as symbols of mental health awareness, and shared information about mental health.

Senior Annabelle Batinick, a member of BALC, spoke about the event’s purpose. “The mental health walk is important to me because it raises awareness about mental health issues and shows support for people who are struggling,” Batinick said. “It also fosters a sense of community and encourages open conversations about mental health.”

The event concluded with students writing positive messages and sharing resources to promote support among peers.

Plainfield East High School serves grades 9 through 12 in Plainfield and Will County, with an enrollment of 2,162 students in the 2019-2020 school year according to the Illinois Report Card (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The student body is diverse, consisting of approximately 42 percent white students, 26 percent Hispanic students, 16 percent black students, and 11 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The highest concentration of students was in grade 10, making up nearly a quarter of the school’s population (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).