DALLASTOWN, Pa. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Central York and Dallastown High School student-athletes are making it a point to prioritize it. Both schools' softball teams raised money in conjunction with Building Bridges for Brianna, a non-profit helping to spread awareness throughout the community.
"It's a big problem here in all of the high school areas for the younger generation," said Dallastown head coach Matt Dowell. "The more we can get out in front of this, the more girls that are aware of this and they are leaders of the school that people look up to them."
The two teams sold mental health bracelets to help raise money. Before the game, they came together to share a powerful moment of togetherness for their team and opponent.
"Since it's such a big thing now everyone struggles and everyone goes through it," said sophomore Catcher Peyton Keim. "It's a big part of us, our team and our community to make sure everyone is ok."
Around $1,000 in total was raised between the two schools. Their message was simple: to let those struggling with mental health know that it is normal and always okay to get help.
"There are a lot of assumptions made that because you are a student-athlete or because you are successful in school that you don’t have things that you are trying to work through," said Central York head coach Shane Walker. "It's ok to ask for help and there are places out there and that is the most important message for my team to appreciate and learn and be part of that process."
The matchup was the second annual mental health game that Dallastown has hosted.