The Avon Maitland District School Board Mental Health Team and Rural Response for Healthy Children hosted a mental health symposium to give students and families more information on community support.
About 150 students in Grades 7 to 12 gathered for the "You Matter" symposium at the Libro Hall in Clinton on Tuesday. And in the evening, families and caregivers were invited to the showcase of about 20 different Mental health organizations.
"The OPP, Choices for Change, Huron Perth Centre... all of the organizations that support mental health and well being because students have told us they didn't know who was here to support them in our communities," said Superintendent of Education Jodie Baker.
She said students will be better prepared after yesterday's event.
"We want students to be able to identify their peers who are struggling, and not to try and help them, other than to give them support and tell them about our community partners who are there to help them," she said.
Over the school year, students will work with mental health experts from Queens and Western Universities to design and assess mental health plans.
Students were inspired by guest speaker Fahd Alhattab, engaged in a variety of learning opportunities provided by jack.org, research staff from the University of Western and Queen’s, and Mindful Mike.
