KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Kaukauna High School is partnering with the Center for Suicide Awareness to raise support for mental health and suicide prevention.
They’re bringing together two musical groups to share their music, and stories of hope and healing with students.
Research shows music is one of the most effective strategies for coping with stress in young people.
Kaukauna senior Aubrey Norred agrees.
“It’s just a really good escape for me to step into a different world and that really helps my mental health,” said Norred.
So does junior Katelyn Hoelzel.
“There’s days where I’m like I need to relax, like it’s been a big day or I’m stressed out and either listening to music or performing it’s fun because it kind of calms you down,” said Hoelzel.
7000apart, an American/Swedish alternative-pop duo, and Bailey James, a country artist from Nashville, were invited to Kaukauna High School to perform some of their music, and share their personal mental health stories.
“I lost my brother when he was 18,” said James. “He took his own life and that really pushed me to want to go into mental health awareness.”
James believes a great way to deal with mental health is through music.
“I think kids really resonate with that,” she said.
Kaukauna student groups and the Center for Suicide Awareness began planning for this event last April.
“Coming together today to see all these kids enjoying music, listening to the messages that these bands have, all worth while,” said Barb Bigalke, founder and director for the Center of Suicide Awareness.
Bigalke says the center’s free emotional service text line, the HOPELINE, has seen an increase in high school girls needing assistance.
“We see so many young girls worrying about their self esteem, worrying about their body image,” said Bigalke.
Bigalke says efforts like Kaukauna’s “Strumming the Strings of Hope” event are meant to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
“Suicide’s still the second leading cause of death amongst our kids and so what better way to come into these schools and say, ‘let’s have real conversations,’” said Bigalke.
Kaukauna senior, Alayna Garrity, says she has struggled with mental health her entire life.
“Having this support system not only from the school, but from the community to do something like this has really shown that I’m really not alone in my struggle and there are ways to get help if I need it,” said Garrity.
Bailey James and 7000apart will also be performing Wednesday night at the Stone Toad in Menasha, as a fundraiser to support the Center for Suicide Awareness. That is set to start at 6 p.m.
