2nd Annual Virtual Mental Health Mile Hosted By BCPS In May

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Baltimore County Public Schools will be offering a variety of activities and providing information to families. Everyone is invited to visit the virtual calming room throughout the month, too.

Each day, daily mental health fast facts will be offered on the @MentalHealth_CB Twitter account. Schools will share coping skills during their morning announcements and will offer mental health-related lessons and activities. Every Wednesday, middle and high school students can join a 45-minute Mental Health Wednesday session led by the Pure Edge/Holistic Foundation and BCPS student leaders. The sessions will take place at 2 p.m. on Google Meet. The join code is mentalwellness.

“Good mental health is always essential,” BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams said. “But this year, given the emotional toll we have all experienced, we want to bring special attention to nurturing the mental well-being of students and staff.”

On May 6, all Team BCPS members are encouraged to wear green in support of children’s mental health. On May 18 and May 20, registered BCPS staff will participate in a two-part Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. To culminate the month, BCPS will host its second annual “Virtual Mental Health Mile.”

“The idea for the Virtual Mental Health Mile is to bring about mental health awareness and to encourage students, families and staff to engage in a physical activity, whether it is walking, running, swimming or playing a sport. Boosting physical activity is one way to improve emotional well-being," Courtney Blair, LCSW-C, BCPS supervisor of mental health, said.

Those interested in participating in the Virtual Mental Health Mile can register online. Those who register by May 21 will electronically receive a race bib. Participants are asked to share photos of how they completed their miles on social media using hashtag #BCPScares. The event is sponsored by the Mind Over Matters Campaign, First Financial Federal Credit Union, the BCPS Employee Assistance Program and the BCPS Employee Wellness Committee.

Additional mental health activities and resources can be found on the Children’s Mental Health Matters website.