The TBDHU teamed up with the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario to promote mental wellness within district schools. The Youth Mental Health and Addictions Champions project encourages youth champions to use creative approaches to raise awareness about mental health and support overall well-being in their schools.
“We know that the way to have an impact on the school community is to educate students who then go on to educate their peers,” says Jennifer McFarlane, Manager of Family and School Health. “These wellness champions will lead a variety of activities in the school for their peers with the support from the Health Unit’s Healthy Schools team.”
The project involved the TBDHU delivering a day-long workshop for select students. Through the workshop, students gained knowledge and understanding around mental health, stress and wellness through the use of interactive resources and reflective activities. In turn, they become champions within their schools.
At one school, the peer-champion activity involved a group of students sticking notes with positive messages on all the lockers. At another school, student champions hosted de-stress activities before exam week.
In the 2014-2015 school year, two high schools were involved with the program – one in Nipigon and two in Thunder Bay. The program expanded in the 2015-2016 school year to involve four high schools and three senior elementary schools in Thunder Bay.