Students in Jackson engage in interactive health education event
On Tuesday, hundreds of students gathered at the Jackson Convention Complex for the United Way of the Capital Area’s Health Symposium.High school students from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin County schools participated in workshops covering topics like mental health awareness, domestic violence prevention, and HIV education, under the theme Healthchella.Brooklin Jones, a student at Forest Hill High School, expressed her excitement about learning more about mental health and avoiding sexting and cyber harassment. “I learned that you just don’t have to do it — texting an unknown person,” Jones said.Jones said she also enjoyed the yoga class.”Yoga was very fun and relaxing for me and my friend and we learned new motions and different little poses to do.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports young people ages 13 to 24 account for about 19% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., which is why organizers say early education is important. “When we can put it in the faces, put it in the mind, the earlier, the better,” said Keedrick Palmer, health community coordinator for United Way of the Capital Area. “Because each and every year, health concerns and health issues grow rapidly.”Organizers say annual events like Health Symposium provide a safe space for students to ask health questions they may not feel comfortable asking elsewhere.
On Tuesday, hundreds of students gathered at the Jackson Convention Complex for the United Way of the Capital Area’s Health Symposium.
High school students from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin County schools participated in workshops covering topics like mental health awareness, domestic violence prevention, and HIV education, under the theme Healthchella.
Brooklin Jones, a student at Forest Hill High School, expressed her excitement about learning more about mental health and avoiding sexting and cyber harassment.
“I learned that you just don’t have to do it — texting an unknown person,” Jones said.
Jones said she also enjoyed the yoga class.
“Yoga was very fun and relaxing for me and my friend and we learned new motions and different little poses to do.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports young people ages 13 to 24 account for about 19% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., which is why organizers say early education is important.
“When we can put it in the faces, put it in the mind, the earlier, the better,” said Keedrick Palmer, health community coordinator for United Way of the Capital Area. “Because each and every year, health concerns and health issues grow rapidly.”
Organizers say annual events like Health Symposium provide a safe space for students to ask health questions they may not feel comfortable asking elsewhere.
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