Our Work
To spread Psyche & Cycle's mission, we have organized a multitude of events to bring more awareness to PMDD and mental health as a whole. Here are synopses of our most recent events.
Follow our socials for more information, pictures, and updates on upcoming activities for YOU to get involved in!
Period Product Drive - Ongoing
Psyche & Cycle has discovered an urgent need for period products across the nation. In the United States alone, an estimated 16.9 million menstruating individuals live in poverty. Of this population, two-thirds are unable to afford basic menstrual products. Further, in the United States, a shocking 1 in 4 students experience period poverty in some form, ranging from a scarcity of products and medical care to a fundamental lack of adequate education. Partnering with our school's NHS chapter, we are conducting a summer-long period product drive, aiming to collect hundreds of boxes of supplies for girls everywhere.
Our mission is to distribute period supplies to schools in urban and rural areas in need. In addition, we plan to give educational, mentorship talks with students about our work, our goal, and how young girls like themselves are capable of changing the world through passion and hard work.
Pennsylvania HOSA State Conference Winners
HOSA, which stands for Health Occupations Students of America is a student-led organization for high school students interested in pursuing a future in the medical field. Students can compete in various events to win the highest rankings in the state. In March of 2024, the Psyche & Cycle team traveled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and competed in the Mental Health Promotion event, presenting our work to raise awareness for the mental health disorder PMDD.
Through our hard work and effort, our group proudly won 1st place in the state and were recognized amongst over 3,000 HOSA students statewide. We networked with several STEM leaders and like-minded, passionate students to create promising opportunities for the future of our organization.
HOSA International Conference Finalists
HOSA, which stands for Health Occupations Students of America is a student-led organization for high school students interested in pursuing a future in the medical field. Our team proudly represented Psyche & Cycle at Houston, Texas for the international conference for the mental health promotion event by presenting about PMDD - one of our most focused disorders.
At the awards ceremony, we proudly obtained 5th place amongst 85 other teams competing worldwide. Through this tremendous victory and eye-opening experience, our team learned an incredible amount about networking, STEM opportunities, and gained inspiration for the betterment of our organization.
The Sticky Note Project
Our mission with the Sticky Note Project was to empower every individual in need this Mental Health Awareness month! We worked with our high school's SHOUT chapter and its several volunteers to place sticky notes with uplifting messages around both our high school and middle school. We hoped to bring a boost to those who may have had a bad day, have been feeling unhappy, or just needed a little extra motivation - a small message can make a big difference.
May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
The Psyche & Cycle Podcast
We chose to widen our outreach by creating a personalized Spotify podcast that is enjoyable to listen to in free time or on the go. We spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour telling stories, sharing laughter, and making connections. From interviews to light-hearted listens, our podcast is a way to spread education and shed positive light on women's physical & mental health.
Special Episodes:
In our second episode, we interviewed high school health and physical education teacher Ms. Chagnon. We took a deep dive into the topics of mental health awareness in the classroom, personal journeys with mental health, and social detriments that contribute to the lack of knowledge regarding mental and sexual health.
In our third episode, Dr. Rose Alkattan, a psychotraumatologist in PMDD relationships, joined us for a special feature. We dissected Alkattan's background, work, and personal struggles with PMDD, as well as the team's own experiences with menstrual disorders and their effects on our relationsips.
PMDD Informational Session
& Research Study
After noticing a lack of adequate education in our own community, we led 3 educational sessions about PMDD. As students entered the classroom session, they filled out a survey regarding their knowledge on the disorder and their opinions. After the session, they were required to take the same survey. We analyzed the results of our study and concluded both the lack of awareness in our community as well as the benefit of our sessions.
The Psyche & Cycle Playlist
The Psyche & Cycle team created a Spotify playlist filled with uplifting, mood-restoring songs that are specialized to help those with PMDD to feel confident and energized during their luteal phase. Our purpose in creating the podcast was a form of peer networking and connection through music, as individuals can freely suggest and add their favorite songs to the playlist through a google form. Each song is carefully reviewed and chosen in order to provide the best possible experience for those struggling. Music can be healing!
Yoga for Menstual Cramping Relief and Mental Ease
We hosted a group yoga session along with health and physical education teacher, Ms Chagnon, where she led us through 30 minutes of hip-opening, calming stretches and yoga poses to aid with period cramps as well as general stress and overwhelming anxiety that results from the menstrual cycle. This class is especially useful for those with PMDD, as yoga is strongly recommended as a preventative measure for those with PMDD and other menstrual conditions.
