Introduced this school year, Aevidum, a mental health club, is committed to fostering an atmosphere of kindness, support, and inclusivity regarding the psychological well-being of PVHS students. After Camdyn Berwager and Ben Morissette, with the help of advisors Ms. Conlan and Mrs. Felty, acquired approval to implement the club, Aevidum had its introductory meetings on November 6th and 7th to garner new members and inspire excitement for its official launch later in the school year.
The notion of adding Aevidum to PVHS began after Berwager’s mother, an advisor for Aevidum at Pottsgrove High School, convinced Berwager, Morissette, and a few other PVHS students to attend a talk seminar discussing the process of instating Aevidum at their high school and how to fulfill its altruistic mission. The seminar highlighted projects, ideas, and protocols for successfully changing mindsets surrounding mental health.
“You hear all the time about kids talking about their mental health and how they’re struggling, and if they’re anxious, or sad, or anything like that, and there’s not really a club in the school to show them that’s okay,” said Morissette.
While PVHS offers a strong and eager counseling department, many students hold reservations about its efficacy and fear the vulnerability necessary to receive aid. In a time where about 1 in 5 U.S. adolescents experience symptoms of anxiety or depression, teenagers must be fully aware of the resources and support at their disposal.
“Our focus, primarily, is creating that environment where it’s okay to get help, because there’s definitely a stigma against that,” said Morissette. Aevidum strives to spread awareness about mental health struggles and encourage kids to seek help of their own will.
The group setting of the club reinforces the meaning of the club’s name: I’ve got your back. As teens appreciate the solidarity and acceptance that Aevidum emanates, their abilities to cope with their problems will improve.
“Other people that are in a similar situation are there for you, and they’ve got your back, because people who are going through similar struggles will be there for you and talking it through will always be of benefit,” said Berwager.
Though getting the word out about the club was difficult, the soft launch meetings in November were a success. Its committed club participants launched their grand opening on January 2nd: a sea of colorful handprints, marked with each PVHS student’s name in the 2nd-floor hallway across the cafeteria. As Aevidum continues to grow, it will increasingly execute projects that improve PVHS’s understanding of mental health with the help and input of its members.
“Our goal is just to be known, that way people know that anybody that’s in Aevidum won’t judge them for having any mental health issues, because it’s normal,” said Morissette.
For any people reading this article who are currently struggling with their mental health, Aevidum kindly asks you to refrain from bottling it up and to talk to a trusted friend, adult, family member, or counselor.
“Reach out because that’s how you get help, and speaking up will help you understand why you’re feeling the way you are,” said Berwager.