MARATHON — Superior-Greenstone District School Board schools have been busy, and will continue to be through May, supporting student mental health.
Canada’s mental health week falls from May 5 to 11, and throughout the month, students in Geraldton, Beardmore, Dorion, Nipigon, Red Rock, Manitouwadge, Marathon, Long Lac, Nakina and Terrace Bay have been participating in themed activities.
“Throughout the entire month, our resource team, which is our mental health workers, Indigenous graduation coaches, child and youth workers and attendance counsellors provide some targeted and focused health promotion events in all of our schools,” said Deana Renaud, manager of mental health for Superior-Greenstone District School Board.
Renaud said this year there have been various workshops, bulletin boards raising awareness, activities on lunch hours, and several mental health fairs throughout the region.
On Wednesday, there was a mental health fair held at Lake Superior High School, and all of the regional schools and boards were invited to attend.
Renaud provided a keynote speech, and students got to visit various booths around the school’s gym with information on supports.
There was also a community event on Thursday in Nipigon, that was a collaboration with the township of Nipigon, Flying Post First Nation, Superior North Catholic School Board, Superior Greenstone District School Board and Red Rock Indian Band.
“It was a massive community event. We had hundreds of students come through and lots of families and community members participate.
“It was a really well attended, super successful event. The kids all got to leave with a care package that included resources and lots of fun things,” Renaud said.
There is a five-session targeted workshop at NipRock High School about building up skills including a trauma-informed and culturally relevant approach to connect students with identity affirming mental health.
“We've had lots of incredible things happen. Everybody has really come together to make sure that this has been a priority for students. We'll continue for the rest of the month, which is really awesome.
“On May 5, where we acknowledged Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, we had tons of events in our schools as well, and most of our schools did something to connect that day to building knowledge and awareness around that particular issue,” she said.
Renaud said since COVID, mental health has been a key issue in communities in the Northwest region.
“We want to be able to create conversation and reduce stigma around the access of mental health services.
“We have lots of issues around stress, relationships and substance use, and it's really important that we develop an awareness around what issues exist, that they're more common than people think, that it's something we need to talk about. And to reduce that barrier for students in terms of accessing services and support.”
There are lots of supports available, Renaud said.
“The services exist and we want to make sure that students are aware of who we are.
“The more comfort we can create around the conversation of mental health and accessing services, the more likely students are going to reach out when they really need them.”
Renaud said at the Superior-Greenstone District School Board, mental health has been a top priority.
“Students in our schools have underlying awareness and understanding. Their response to these events has been really positive.
“I think the importance of these events and prioritizing mental health through not just the month, but through the entire year is so important because we're building up that positive connection, we're building up the importance of conversation and we're noticing that students are participating more and more because it's not such a taboo topic any longer,” she said.
Renaud, who has been in mental health in addictions for 20 years in the Northwest, said she has seen a real change it attitudes towards the topics.
“Twenty years ago, or 10 years ago I would have said like it's hard, it's challenging and it drains you as a mental health practitioner or a therapist, but I think for me now, it causes me to be to be more joyful about my work.
“It inspires me.
“You want to give 100 per cent of yourself in the work you do, and it makes you want to work harder for the well-being of our communities and our region.”
