Student-led initiatives around mental health are finding success in Anglophone South School District schools.
The District Education Council learned Wednesday night about the efforts at Hampton High School and Fundy Middle/High School.
Hampton High added ‘Mental Health Mondays,’ a talk show created by students for students to reduce stigma and create awareness.
Ella Summerville, one of the hosts, said it began at the District Youth Forum in December.
“We, on the way home from that, came up with an idea for a show. We would have a discussion panel talk show kind of style show that we would show to students to just kind of start the conversations about mental health and ‘Mental Health Mondays’ was born,” Summerville said.
Joey Murphy is the show’s director. He said the whole experience has brought him out of his shell.
“For me really, I have always been the shy, anxious kid so, this is a really big step for me,” Murphy said.
DEC members also heard from Cohen Draper of Fundy Middle/High School who spoke of their mental health week activities, which included ‘The Jack Talk,’ which are mental health talks delivered by youth.
Superintendent Zoë Watson noted how student-driven events have a big impact.
