Here at Sahuaro, once a year, we hold a week to bring awareness to different causes of all kinds. This year, every day at lunch, Student Council sold snacks and donated half of their profits to organizations supporting these causes. Each day, there is a poster with specifically colored ribbons for each student to take in support of that cause.
Monday – Cancer Awareness
There are over 200 types of cancer, and over 31 types have recognized ribbon colors. The overall color for cancer recognition is purple, but our student council chose pink due to the proximity to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s estimated that 2,041,910 US citizens will develop cancer, and 618,120 will pass away from it. Is it imperative that you get checked for cancer as often as possible. You’re able to perform self-exams on yourself to search for signs of breast cancer. As for other types of cancer, you should see your general practitioner, gynecologist, or dermatologist.
Tuesday – Drug Abuse Awareness
Drug abuse affects 51.2% of people 12 and older, and over 1.15 million of these people have died from overdoses. People in extreme living conditions are predisposed to addiction and more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder. Addiction is also genetic, so people with addicts in their family are also more likely to become addicts. Many children are also born already addicted to drugs and go through withdrawal during their first few weeks of life. Drug abuse is a serious issue that requires intense inpatient treatment. Try your best to support the addicts in your life; they’re struggling with a mental condition just like anybody else.
Wednesday – OCD Awareness – Teal
OCD is often associated with being a perfectionist and being organized. In reality, OCD is a chronic mental condition that affects almost 2 million people worldwide. OCD is fueled by a person’s uncontrollable mental and physical compulsions to either say, touch, or think about certain things. These compulsions can be debilitating and can cause a person to feel like they can’t live without completing them. OCD often requires intense exposure therapy and even medication to overcome these compulsions. This season, show some grace for your friends who are diagnosed with OCD.
Thursday – Gun Violence Awareness – Orange
Our most recent data from 2023 says 46,728 people died that year from gun-related incidents. While it was only the 3rd highest year for gun deaths, 2022 and 2021 were the 2nd and 1st. Gun suicides have also been increasing and peaked in 2023 as well. There has also been an increase in active shooter situations since the year 2000. In 2000, there were 3 incidents; in 2023, there were 48. There has been a clear upward trend in gun deaths, suicides, and active shooters, and it is evident that we must fight for not only justice for victims but also prevention from such occurrences in the future.
Friday – Mental Health Awareness – Green
It is said that in the U.S., one in five adults lives with a mental illness, almost 25% of our population, not counting the minors and the undiagnosed. As for teens, in a survey called “National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement”, 49.5% had a mental illness. Mental health conditions can also stem from stress and trauma of all the other causes we’ve raised awareness for, so it’s also imperative for us to address these root issues.
