During Mental Health Awareness Month, the Duplin County 4-H Prevention Program partnered with local elementary schools to promote mental wellness and emotional well-being through the power of reading. Thanks to Partnership for Success grant funding, books focused on mental health, kindness, emotions, and resilience were purchased and donated to all 8 of the K-8 schools across Duplin County.
Five schools participated in special classroom reading events held throughout the month. Those schools were: B.F. Grady Elementary School – 1 st grade students (approximately 94 participants), N. Duplin Elementary School – 2 nd grade students (approximately 110 participants), Chinquapin Elementary – 7 th grade students (approximately 64 participants), Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary – 5 th grade students (approximately 44 participants), Beulaville Elementary – 1 st grade (approximately 87 participants). Volunteers from the Duplin County Substance Use Coalition joined staff and community partners in reading to students and engaging them in conversations about feelings, coping skills, friendship, and the importance of asking for help when needed.
The initiative, in an effort to promote NC 988, aimed to encourage open discussions about mental wellness at anearly age while helping students understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. Through age-appropriate stories and interactive discussions, students were reminded that they are not alone and that it is okay to talk about their emotions.
The Duplin County 4-H Prevention Program expressed appreciation for the strong collaboration with Duplin County Schools and school administrators who welcomed the program into their classrooms despite it being the testing season. The success of the project was made possible through the support of educators, volunteers, and community partners who recognize the importance of promoting positive mental health among youth.
Special thanks are extended to the volunteers – Maury Castillo (Duplin Co. Health Dept.), Jennifer Jones (TurtleCove Counseling) and Georgette Lehr (Hoving Home) – from the Duplin County Substance Use Coalition for donating their time and helping make the reading events meaningful and engaging for students throughout the county.
By working together, community organizations and schools continue to create supportive environments wherechildren can learn healthy coping skills, build confidence, and develop positive emotional wellness habits that can last a lifetime.
