POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) — Armed with slime and stress balls, Olentangy Orange junior Nikhil Bhimireddy and his classmates found mental health events for students may be most effective when they leave out “mental health.”

Bhimireddy is part of SELAC, or Olentangy’s Student Equity Leadership Advisory Council, an elected organization of students from all four district high schools. Serving on SELAC’s mental health cohort, Bhimireddy and his team were looking for a way to make mental health events more appealing to fellow students. 

He worked on an interactive mental health gallery last year with therapy dogs, meditation centers and educational materials. After speaking with students and gathering feedback, Bhimireddy and the SELAC team discovered marketing these experiences as “mental health events” discouraged participation because of the stigma surrounding the concept.

“When they come in to participate, they feel as if they are being put in a vulnerable position, like they have sort of problems with their mental health. But that’s not really the case,” Bhimireddy said.

SELAC had its first 2025 mental health event at Olentangy Orange, with the three other high schools to follow. Gone were the trifolds, quizzes and speakers. Instead, SELAC debuted a “self-care fair,” inviting students to make essential oil-infused slime, stress balls and play dough during lunch and free periods. There were also designated times just for students with cognitive disabilities, and Bhimireddy said it was a great success.

Although the National Institute of Mental Health considers self-care a part of mental health, the new name was more accessible for students. Bhimireddy said rebranding and implementing calming activities made an enormous difference, with more than 600 students participating at the first event.

“Sure, some students found it just fun,” Bhimireddy said. “But a good amount of students also found it very helpful because we are in a testing season right now. Having fun events like these and a part of the school that are also free to attend … it’s really convenient for students.” 

Mental health is a leading concern among students, especially those in middle and high school. According to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, one-third of Ohio students said they have anxiety, with another 35% reporting symptoms of depression. The Institute found that in 2023, 47% of Ohio high school juniors — Bhimireddy’s grade — reported having poor mental health. See previous coverage about Ohio students’ mental health in the video player above.

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation found suicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 10 through 14, and the second leading for youth ages 15 to 19. According to the Foundation, one in five Ohio high school students report having serious thoughts of suicide.

Olentangy schools prides itself as being a leading district for student mental health services, partnering with licensed psychotherapists from the Wexner Medical Center. In 2023, Olentangy became the first school district to hold a certification as a behavioral health provider, a designation given by the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services Board. Olentangy Orange even has a health and wellness room created by mental health specialists at Ohio State.

“We are proud that our students are finding new and creative ways to support one another. Not only that, but these activities are also a reflection of one of our district’s strategic plan goals — to alleviate barriers to learning,” Olentangy spokesperson Amanda Beeman said. “This program empowers our students to use their voice as leaders in their schools, and we’re witnessing that in the form of student-led initiatives such as SELAC and these events.”

Bhimireddy said district initiatives or state-mandated suicide prevention training are important, but student-led events reach people differently.

“It’s really different to connect on a student-to-student basis. It’s one thing where an adult can come in and give you a seminar, but in my opinion, I think it’s much more powerful when somebody your age — somebody you can relate to directly, somebody that’s going through the same situation that you’re going through — can talk to you,” he said.

Bhimireddy said he wanted to share the success of SELAC’s programming in hopes that other schools will follow suit. He recommended schools seek student input like Olentangy and to prioritize students’ mental well-being.

“Regarding mental health specifically, I think it’s really important to encourage other schools to do something similar,” he said. “I also encourage them to kind of take that self care route rather than the mental health route, because we’ve personally found more success with that.”

Olentangy’s three other high schools will have the opportunity to participate in SELAC’s self-care fairs soon. Bhimireddy said the first event was so popular, they had to increase supplies for the next schools.

If you or anyone else you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, call or text 988 to be connected with a professional for help.