|Photo by Joselyn King| Woodsdale Elementary School students get a lesson in the parts of the brain from Matthew Ryan, left, program assistant with the West Virginia University Brain Injury Services Project.

WHEELING – The brain processes 70,000 thoughts a day, and you’re more likely to lose your vision if you get hit in the back of the head.

These are just two of the facts Woodsdale Elementary School students learned Friday during the school’s sixth annual mental health fair.

“It’s a big deal for us, the kids and their families because we want to help them understand that mental health is important,” explained Allyson Kangisser, counselor at Woodsdale Elementary. “We want to de-stigmatize it and make it part of the conversation at the school.”

The focus of the day with the elementary school students wasn’t on mental disorders – which would have been inappropriate for that age group, according to Kangisser. Instead, the students learned about the functions of the brain, how to keep their brains safe, and emotional coping mechanisms.

“A big push we have is helping them know adults are there to help you,” she continued. “If you are feeling sad or having a bad day, there are adults you can trust to help you … and identifying those adults they can go to everyday. We want the kids to feel loved, safe and secure.”

Representatives from the West Virginia University Traumatic Brain Injuries Services brought with them “The Big Brain Exhibit” — a large inflatable replica of the brain big enough for students to tour and walk through was set up in the gymnasium, providing them the opportunity to learn about the parts of the brain and its functions.

Words for the day were “occipital” and “cerebellum.”

In the media center, Kathleen Wack, associate professor of health and physical education at West Liberty University, led students in yoga and motion movements.

“It’s about teaching kids about how exercise can help them to relax and feel calm, and that it’s good for mental health,” Wack explained. “It’s also good for learning breath control to regulate their emotions. There are lots of flexibility and stretching exercises, too.”