Greater Lawrence Technical School Hosts Annual Student Mental Health and Wellness Fair

ANDOVER — Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS) students demonstrated their continued commitment to mental health awareness on Friday, May 23, as they gathered for the annual Student Mental Health and Wellness Fair. 

For the fourth straight year, GLTS welcomed wellness-oriented local organizations and businesses, who spoke to students across all grade levels about the importance of wellness and mental health. 

Over 16 organizations attended the event. The North Andover Police Department brought their comfort dog Scarlet, and GLTS School Resource Officer Eric Milligan was also in attendance, along with Andover Police Officer Rachael Mini.

Other organizations who attended included the Merrimack YMCA, Lawrence Family Health, Andover Fire Department, NAMI Greater North Shore, Safe Schools, The NAN Project, Brothers in Arms, Eammons Hearts, Movement City, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, the YWCA, Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates, ACT Lawrence, Squashbusters, and Natural Nutrition and Wellness. 

The event is coordinated and led by the School Counseling Department as well as the Youth Empowerment Committee, a dedicated group of GLTS students committed to increasing awareness and destigmatizing mental health issues.

Senior Marcel Lightfoot-Taylor is one of the students who has played an instrumental role in coordinating the Wellness Fair throughout his four years at GLTS.

“The wellness fair has been a great effort to bring us together as a community and help us support each other. The word I would like to share about GLTS and the fair is: ‘impactful,'” said Lightfoot-Taylor. 

GLTS hosts this fair in an effort to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlight the ways mental illness and addiction can affect patients, providers, families, and society at large.

“This is one of the most important events we host at GLTS. It is a necessity to bring awareness to the mental health issues that our students may face or already be facing, so they know they are not isolated in their struggles and are equipped with the tools they need to receive adequate support,” said Superintendent Lavoie. “We would like to thank each of the attending organizations for supporting this initiative and for providing transparent, comprehensive education to our students.”