A group of Whitefish students have organized a community event focused on destigmatizing mental health and promoting inclusivity.  

The Mindful May Festival is set for this Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, on the Whitefish High School front lawn. The free, family-friendly inaugural event will have local businesses participating as wellness-related vendors, complete with live music and a food truck.  

“It will highlight how our school is an integral part of this town and how everyone supports everyone, no matter physical or mental struggles,” said senior Zoey Marzo.  

Marzo is a part of a club at Whitefish High School called Student Outreach Committee. 

The committee is entirely student run and includes four students from each grade level. The club, now its fourth year, was formed following the Covid pandemic when students’ struggles seemed as prevalent as ever. It focuses on mental health awareness in addition to holding mentorship programs throughout the year and organizing freshman orientation activities.  

Typically, the committee takes on a large mental health awareness initiative in May every year. This year, however, the students decided they wanted to have a wider, more inclusive reach.   

“There are a lot of walls with kids being able to help kids with bigger issues,” said Kristen Pulsifer, a teacher who sponsors the club. 

With the event, Pulsifer said that the students have taken aim to restructure the club to be more proactive rather than reactive, striving for more balance, positivity and community engagement. 

The Nate Chute Foundation has been extremely supportive and a good pillar for the group, offering inspiration including the premise that the event be structured on eight realms of wellness: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual.   

The students had a divide-and-conquer strategy for contacting businesses and individuals to help round out the festival in each of those realms.  

North Valley Music School, Glacier Bank, North Valley Rehab and Ortho, Stumptown Art Studio, Flathead Rivers Alliance, and the Whitefish Middle School jazz band are just a few of those participating.  

The students spoke on how the event will generate feelings of inclusivity and start conversations that destigmatize mental health illnesses and show that there are a variety of resources and ways to promote wellbeing. 

“Recognizing mental health is a strong thing that can pull down society, and coming together to work together on this, it keeps it from isolating people,” said senior Witney Workman.  

Several students said that how you treat yourself reflects how you treat others. 

Freshman Marcus Mercer added, “You never know who is struggling. It could be your best friend or your neighbor. The more awareness, the more likely that someone will speak up.”