Mental illness has existed as long as humans have, yet it has not been until recently that mental illnesses have been addressed. For the first time ever, Orono High School is taking a step in the right direction to combat the negative stigma surrounding mental illnesses.

The newly founded Mental Health Alliance seeks to provide support for Orono students with a mental illness or students who have experienced someone struggling with a mental disorder.

The club has been in the making since 2013. Founder, senior Ella Gagne, first had the idea to create the club her freshman year. Entering high school, Gagne herself struggled with anxiety and depression. Looking back, she wished that she had had an opportunity to enroll in a club much like the one she has now created.

Although Orono Schools provide counseling, a club had yet to be created that provided a safe environment for students to discuss the struggles that other students and themselves have combatted surrounding mental illness.

“The Orono School District was concerned about the liability factor that the group encompassed and what the discussions would lead to,” Gagne said. In order to overcome this obstacle, Gagne created the club initially as purely informational. To everyone’s surprise, during the first meeting the discussion lead to so much more.

The first meeting held on Sept. 28, had a turnout of 25 people ranging from freshmen to seniors.

“I was not disappointed at the meeting…It was amazing for me to be around so many people who were willing to share what they went through, it’s a great feeling,” freshman Heidi Luedeman said. To Luedeman it was a place where she was able to “feel normal.”

The meeting provided “a place for people to go to feel supported and understood,” senior Melanie Iversen said.

A multitude of students shared their inspiring stories that morning including senior Mattie Rice. Rice shared her story entailing how she has coped with the mental disorders in her life. Her resilience has allowed her to understand that sometimes “people see it as a weakness rather than an illness,” said Rice.

In light of the recent events, members of the Mental Health Alliance, also feel that the passing of Drake Shaver sheds new light onto the club.

“It helps put things into perspective” and also “helps promote kindness because no one wants to be the reason for someone else’s misery,” said Rice. The club can help provide support for those who were close to Drake or are simply having trouble processing the event. Whatever the case may be, the Mental Health Alliance provides any necessary means for Orono students who need support.

The main goal of the Mental Health Alliance said Gagne, “has always been to help as many people as possible, which can mean different things for different people.” Yet, when creating the program she encompassed the three basic components of: information, discussion, and support. With these components, she has been able to make a difference in the growing number of students enrolled in the club.

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Through the three year journey that Gagne embarked on, her efforts have already made an instrumental impact on the students of the Mental Health Alliance.

“I think it’s wonderful that Ella and Orono have been able to work together to make this club a success,” said Rice.
Iversen also had nothing, but praise to share about the club.

“Ella did such a great thing starting this club” and that she is “so happy to be supporting her,” Iversen said.

The overwhelming support the club has created, Gagne said, has only made her more appreciative that she did not give up on her dream of creating the first ever mental health club at Orono High School. One goal moved her to take action so that no one would feel alone when combating mental illnesses.

“My intention of the alliance is still so simple to me; make the path I traveled with mental illness easier for those who will come behind me,” she said.