Central Mountain High School holds second annual Mental Health Walk

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – Central Mountain High School held its second annual Mental Health Awareness Walk Thursday. The entire staff and student body went outside and walked around the campus to bring awareness to mental health. For the second year in a row, two Central Mountain seniors hosted the walk; Ashton Peters and Lela Vanartsdalen, student leaders of the Central Mountain High School Mental Health Advocates club.

Peters and Vanartsdalen came up with the idea for the walk a few years ago in one of their classes. Mental health is something that hits home for both students.

“I lost my friend, Cimarron, when she was 12 years old to suicide, and ever since then, it has been a big issue of mine to bring awareness to mental health,” Peters said.

“I had a friend pass away from suicide a couple years ago,” Vanartsdalen said.

Signs of encouragement lined the walking route. The club also sold T-shirts for the walk.

“So, the t-shirt money goes to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” added Peters.
Both Peters and Vanartsdalen are graduating this spring but say the club will continue the annual walk.