During this year’s PBIS Dress-Up Week, Senior, Noah Downey is stepping up to highlight the significance of mental health awareness. Positive Behavioral interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach to help promote school safety and good behavior. As the President of the Hawkeye Club, Noah understands the power of visibility and engagement in fostering a supportive school environment.

“Mental health is essentially the current status of your mind,” Downey explained. “It can be really good or it can be really bad, and there’s no one right way to improve it. Learning about mental health is crucial because it benefits both yourself and those around you. It’s tough dealing with poor mental health, especially when you feel like there’s no support.”

Downey’s commitment to this cause is evident in his enthusiastic participation in the week’s dress-up events. “I dressed up because I’m Hawkeye President and wanted to get this message out to students,” he said. “I believe it’s important to make mental health a visible and talked-about topic on campus.”

In addition to his current participation, Downey is excited about continuing to engage with the spirit week. “I do plan to dress up on other days,” he said. “I really enjoy dressing up for spirit weeks because it brings the school together and makes everyone feel more involved.” His efforts remind us all of the importance of addressing mental health and fostering an inclusive environment.