Mural is a reminder of hope

TONAWANDA — When Grace D’Antonoli sat down to think about what she wanted to do for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, she knew that somehow she wanted to thank Cardinal O’Hara High School for providing her with a healthy environment to learn and grow and deal with mental health.

A senior at Cardinal O’Hara, she saw the quote “Be who you are and be that well,” on a banner at the school entrance.

With that in mind, she began work on her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts. Those who earn it set themselves apart from their peers by finding meaningful ways to address some of the most pressing issues facing their communities and act on issues they are passionate about.

Mental health is something that is important to Grace, so she wanted to make that the center of her Girl Scout project.

“I struggle with my mental health and I know that many others do also,” she noted. “By bringing awareness to mental health, I hope it allows others to know they are not the only ones who suffer, and there are people and resources to help them,” she explained.

“The quote by St. Francis de Sales, who, along with St. Francis of Assisi, patron saints of Cardinal O’Hara, is the embodiment of what O’Hara teaches,” she said.

With the quote in mind, the talented artist designed and painted a mural in the main hall that portrays a cartoon-themed sunrise to depict the message that nothing lasts forever, and a new day will always begin again.

“My middle school years were a very difficult time for me. When I started at COHS in 2021, the support from the staff and students allowed me to feel comfortable and involved. The environment at COHS is non-judgmental and allows students to be included in activities they might not otherwise partake in,” Grace said.

By creating this mural, Grace’s hope is that students will understand the message and realize that there is always help available and they don’t have to struggle alone.

Grace researched the immense mental health problem, especially for teens. She discovered that pre-Covid, the statistics on mental health for high school students were already alarming. However, these statistics have only gotten worse.

According to PubMed Central, 20 percent of teenagers have seriously contemplated suicide. Nine percent have attempted suicide from January 2020 to January 2021, the report stated. Forty-two percent of the participants have reported acts of self-harm.

“For these reasons, I felt it was necessary to include a brochure featuring apps that were approved by a licensed therapist, and are made with mental health assistance in mind. The brochure also has a QR code with links to my resources and more information. This brochure can be found in the Cardinal O’Hara counseling center as well,” Grace added. 

“My hope by completing this project is that the stigma associated with mental health is reduced and the topic is discussed more and that students feel comfortable to reach out for help. I hope to reach many people with this project, but even if I can help one person, it will be worth it.”