Mental Health Awareness Week
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, which is May 6th to 10th this year, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is highlighting its mental health initiatives and efforts that help positively impact students on a daily basis.
Upcoming Health and Wellness Event
LEVEL UP is back this year after a successful inaugural event last year that had an attendance of nearly 200 students!
On May 9th, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is hosting its second annual Health and Wellness Conference for Grade 7 students who are transitioning to high school. This event aims to help prepare students with information, tips, and ideas on how to get ready for this important transitional time in their lives.
The conference features engaging keynote speakers and interactive sessions covering diverse wellness topics like building healthy relationships, establishing effective routines, prioritizing quality sleep, maintaining physical activity, managing stress, understanding substance use, healthy eating habits, sexual health, and more. These sessions are organized by dedicated Â鶹ÊÓƵ staff in partnership with external professionals.
Grade 7 students also get the opportunity to connect with high school students through Brooks' student-led mental health advocacy club. The club sets up a booth to share insights about what to expect in the upcoming year and the variety of support offered at Brooks.
A message from the Director of Student Support Services and Director of Instruction (K-7) at Â鶹ÊÓƵ:
We're excited to provide Grade 7 students transitioning to Brooks with the opportunity to connect with peers from across the district and explore different aspects of their own well-being. This event also introduces students to local service providers and adults who offer support within our community. Looking ahead, we hope to continue hosting an annual conference that continues to focus on a multi-faceted lens of wellness while adapting to the changing needs of our youth.
Student-led Mental Health & Advocacy Club
Meet members of the Brooks Mental Health Advocacy Club! The group formed in January 2022 with the vision of creating a safe space for students where they can feel free to express their emotions without judgment and learn about mental health literacy. The students meet weekly on Tuesdays where they get to hang out with each other, talk about what’s on their mind, laugh together, plan initiatives, and continuously try to find ways to get others involved in mental health conversations.
A few initiatives that the Mental Health Advocacy Group has facilitated throughout the year with the support of School Counsellor, Gerry Brach, include:
- A gratitude journal called “Rise & Shine Gratitude” that challenged students to list 5 things they were grateful for, 5 people who made them smile, 3 ways technology has helped them, and 1 difficult situation that they have gone through that made them stronger.
- A “One Week Sleep Challenge” for students and staff that inspired them to track their sleep for one week and identify habits that may need changing in order to get better rest.
- A “Bell, Let’s Talk… Bingo!” contest that encouraged students and staff to complete as many self-care activities as they could in one month.
Recently, we got the chance to speak to a few members of the Brooks Mental Health and Advocacy Group who are currently between the grades of 9-12 about why mental health is important and what advice they would offer other students… read what they had to say:
“It’s always good to debrief with yourself and where you’re mentally at… if you’re feeling stressed or happy. It’s important to do mental health check-ins with yourself on the regular.”
“Mental and physical health are so interconnected because your mental health helps you take care of your physical health and taking care of your physical health improves your mental health.”
“Don’t be scared to reach out and find an adult or someone who you trust to help you because there are people there to support you.”
“There is no one-size-fits-all in mental health. Self-care looks different for everyone, so explore by trying new things and find what works for you.”
“Be kind to yourself. If you fail a test, it’s not that big of a deal. Re-take it. Talk to your teacher. Have grace for yourself.”
“Get involved. Branch out. Make new friends. Make new connections. People are there to help you, all you have to do is ask.”
“I’ve learned that a trusted adult is good at providing solutions and a friend is great for when you just want someone to listen.”
In addition to hosting events and supporting the student-led mental health advocacy group, Â鶹ÊÓƵ provides counselling services facilitated by certified professionals employed within the district, as well as various tools and resources that can be accessed at anytime from anywhere.
Within the district, students can benefit from Student Support Services such as School Psychology, Student Counselling Services, and support through an Integrated Child and Youth Team Clinical Counsellor. All of these services aim to offer social, emotional, behavioural, and personal support. Students may access counselling services through a referral to the school-based team or may self-refer at the high school.
The ICY teams are part of B.C.'s strategy for mental health and substance use care. They bring services together in a multidisciplinary team setting, which makes it easier for children and youth to connect to the care they need, where and when they need it – at school and in the community.
Did you know Â鶹ÊÓƵ offers an anonymous reporting tool available online through ERASE (Expect Respect & a Safe Education)? The “erase | Report It” bullying resource enables students to conveniently and anonymously submit reports of bullying, incidents, or threats using a smartphone or computer, choosing when and where they feel safe to do so.
The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is a new service available 24/7/365 to help Canadians when they need it most. The service, accessible via call or text to 9-8-8, offers trauma-informed and culturally affirming support to anyone who is thinking of suicide or who is worried about someone they know.
Foundry is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for people ages 12-24 with a mission to support young people in living a good life.
A Mental Health & Wellness App by the Tla’amin Nation in partnership with called ʔəms nÉ™m (the way we are). “ʔəms nÉ™m is over a year in the making and was designed by a community-driven working group of Tla’amin Elders, youth, and health and education staff. It features Elder stories, cultural teachings, Ê”ayÊ”aÇ°uθÉ™m language lessons, traditional songs, and land-integrated learning.”
Download on the
Download on