After the past four years, Hoover High School students said they needed lessons in self-care.
Self-harm, substance abuse and mental health diagnoses have spiked by more than 90% during the pandemic, according to research from FAIR Health.
“The effects of school closures and the effects of the pandemic have had far-reaching effects that I can’t begin to describe,” said Jason Babineau, senior director of community schools.
Hoover High School is one of five schools in the San Diego Unified School District that uses the community school model. The model assessed schools’ needs and found that mental health and how to deal with stress was her third biggest focus for students, parents and staff.
Vicki Negrete, a sophomore at Hoover High School, described how the pandemic has affected her co-workers.
“I think that caused a lot of anxiety and depression because we were just shut down and couldn’t communicate with anyone,” Negrete said.
Students took matters into their own hands to combat this trend with dozens of booths teaching their classmates how to protect their health and deal with stress.
This is Hoover High School’s first self-care fair, and it probably won’t be the last.
“We have been healing for years, and it needs to be done for everyone, especially our students,” Babineau said.
