May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but at Wheatland Middle School, the conversation went beyond awareness. It became part of the school day.
Wheatland MS recently held its 2nd annual Mental Health Fair on Friday, May 15, giving students time to learn about mental health, explore coping strategies, and connect with community resources available to support them.
Organized by School Social Worker Cary Burgos, the fair was created to help students understand that mental health is something everyone experiences, even if it looks different from person to person.
“The purpose of it is to give our students an opportunity to just take some time to tap into their emotions and learn a little bit about their mental health,” Burgos said.
For Burgos, the importance of the fair became clear after last year’s event, when a student told one of the participating agencies, “Wow, my school actually cares about my mental health.” That moment stayed with her.
“Just hearing that student say that made me realize how important it is to normalize conversations regarding mental health,” Burgos said. “It’s something we all go through, and it looks a little different for all of us.”
This year’s fair included a guest speaker, Michael from People & Things, who spoke with students about mental health, personal experience, and entrepreneurship. Students also visited community resource tables, where vendors shared information about local supports and services.
The fair also expanded its student activities, offering 15 different stations for students to choose from. Those included bike riding with Common Wheel, rock painting, a plant bar hosted by Willow Valley, hip-hop aerobics, and other hands-on activities designed to help students explore wellness in different ways.
The event was built into the school day with the support of Principal Mr. Trost and Wheatland staff. Students participated by grade level, while staff also had the opportunity to choose sessions and engage in the experience.
Burgos said student feedback remains one of the most important parts of planning the fair. This year, students were asked what they learned and what they would take away from the experience.
Their responses included reflections such as, “It’s good to take care of your mental health,” “We need to take mental health seriously,” “To be confident in myself,” and “My mental health can affect my behavior and physical health.”
The Mental Health Fair reminds students that taking care of themselves is part of learning. It also reinforces something central to the School District of Lancaster’s work that students need to feel supported socially, emotionally, physically, and academically in order to thrive.
“Yes, academics are important,” Burgos said. “But mental education is important.”
Burgos hopes the event continues to grow each year. She has already started thanking this year’s partners and planning ahead for next year’s fair, which is expected to return on the first Friday in May 2027.
Community organizations, businesses, mental health professionals, and potential guest speakers interested in supporting the event are encouraged to connect with Wheatland Middle School.
For Burgos, the goal is to make the Mental Health Fair something students look forward to each year, and to keep reminding them that they are supported.
During Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, Wheatland MS is helping students see that caring for their mental health isn’t separate from their education, it’s part of it. For more photos, visit us on social media.