When you’re trying to spread awareness, it really all starts with a conversation.
In one ‘conversation’ — called Is It Just Me?: Conversations About Mental Health — 700 students from 13 high schools across the Ottawa Valley were bussed to The Royal to hear personal stories from two young women living with mental illness. From the chief of psychiatry at The Royal, a youth psychologist, an addiction counsellor and a social worker, they also heard how mental health affects their thoughts, moods and behaviours, what is going on in the brain that makes us feel the way we do, how to reduce stress and keep healthy, and when and how to get help.
The ‘conversation’ consisted of four half-day educational sessions. Two sessions were themed “Feeling Depressed or Anxious? Healthy Minds for Healthy Bodies” and two were themed “Booze and Drugs: The Good, the Bad and the Very Ugly.”
This unique initiative builds on the DIFD campaign to raise awareness and inspire conversations about youth mental health. Sponsorship from Xerox Canada, which believes in the importance of nurturing healthy minds, also helped make these sessions possible. “As a knowledge-based organization, Xerox appreciates the enormous human potential of healthy minds; that’s why we are supporting this innovative, educational initiative delivered by The Royal,” says Emechete Onuoha, Vice President, Citizenship and Government Affairs.
The feedback from students and teachers was very positive, and an electronic survey sent out after the sessions indicated that this initial ‘conversation’ had helped to increase knowledge and understanding about mental illness. Extensive media coverage demonstrates that the community is talking more openly about such an important topic.
The Royal’s Is It Just Me? is a welcome start to the conversation.
Stay tuned for the next round, beginning this year. A personal story will start the conversation in this upcoming presentation. Students will then choose to attend one of two break-out sessions: ”Are you feeling depressed or anxious?” or “Booze and Drugs: the good, the bad and the very ugly”.. At the end of the day, a wrap-up will give students information on research and the brain along with some coping and resiliency techniques.
In speaking about this initiative, Nicole Loreto, Chief Communications Officer and Community Engagement, says: “There has been an explosion in demand from parents, educators and youth for knowledge about how to recognize and manage mental illness. Is It Just Me? Conversations About Mental Health speaks directly to young people to help them better understand what they’re feeling and encourage them to seek help when needed. Addressing mental illness early helps to improve recovery and balance in one’s life and reduces the risk of suicide.”