“1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Nami). This statistic and her personal life experience with mental health are reasons why Eve Gergis decided to create such a club here at MHS. 

The new club at MHS is the Mental Health Alliance Club, founded by junior Eve Gergis. This club is inclusive to all and is still looking for more members. The club’s mission is to improve the overall environment of the school by providing support for those who are struggling with mental health issues. It is a student based assistance system where kids can be taught to help their peers with whatever support they might need. This club will go further than the videos shown and the posters hung throughout the school. 

Gergis is a new student to MHS. She believes that mental health struggles  are real and are something that affects students everyday. Gergis is very passionate about raising awareness because she herself “went in and out of severe depressions.” 

Mental illness was something that wasn’t talked about or even recognized at her previous school. Gergis says that family and friends would only see that something is wrong when she was “at [her] breaking point.” Gergis said that she was told to  “just be happy” or to “pray it away” which would not help or guide her at all. 

“I realized I had two options: 1. to either let myself be defeated and bitter about it or 2. use it and help other people,” Gergis shares. 

She saw the opportunity she had with a community like Milford and created this club that would benefit the members and the people outside of it. 

Gergis says, “I want at least one kid to join. To know that I did everything I could.” That is the goal is to “stop the feeling of isolation.” 

More information about the next meetings can be found on the Instagram account mhs.mha or in your emails. If you have any further questions, you can email Gergis at [email protected]