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Hendrick Hudson Student Creates 'Mental Health Awareness Day'

CORTLANDT, N.Y. -- Hendrick Hudson High School junior Carole Sinacore and her family have organized the school’s first Mental Health Awareness Day, on May 26. 

Members of the Hendrick Hudson High School varsity softball team, wearing their “End the Silence/Stop the Stigma" t-shirts.

Members of the Hendrick Hudson High School varsity softball team, wearing their “End the Silence/Stop the Stigma" t-shirts.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The day will represent the culmination of a number of activities happening at the high school to promote Mental Health Awareness month. Sinacore has been the driving force behind the initiative at the high school, aimed at shedding light on an often misunderstood topic.

“We are supporting an organization called NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness),” said Sinacore. “This organization promotes awareness, education and support to individuals and families living with mental illness. In order to support this campaign, we decided that our school would participate in raising awareness to help ‘Stop the Stigma.’” 

Green is the color that NAMI uses to represent mental health awareness. More information on NAMI and Mental Health Awareness Month can be found at this link. Among the events planned for the month of May: 

  • The Varsity girls’ softball team will wear green Mental Health Awareness t-shirts a number of games throughout the month. 
  • The high school will host a “Wear Green Day” on Thursday, May 26.
  • Green bracelets and green “End the Silence/Stop the Stigma” t-shirts will be available for purchase in the cafeteria the week of May 23. 
  • Each day during the month of May, a mental health statistic will be announced at the high school.

Sinacore was motivated to do something to promote mental health awareness after learning that a 27-year old Hendrick Hudson High School alumnus and family friend had lost his battle with depression and taken his own life. 

Sinacore then approached the high school administration, staff and faculty to request that efforts be made to promote conversations both in the school and the community on the topic of mental health. It is Sinacore's hope that this becomes an annual tradition at the high school, raising awareness and breaking down obstacles for those in need of support.

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