By meadowlakeNOW

Student-led Green Ribbon walk promotes mental health awareness

May 14, 2017 | 9:40 AM

The overcast day didn’t put a damper on the spirit of Jonas Samson Junior High’s Green Ribbon Walk. The event, run by the Stop the Stigma group at the school, helped raised funds and awareness for mental health.

Over 50 participants braved the wind and rain at Lion’s Park in the early afternoon of Saturday, May 13. This student led initiative raised over $500 for the cause in a three-hour time span.

Teacher Melissa Scrivener said the Stop the Stigma group started as a class assignment, but grew thanks to students’ interest and investment in the cause.

“The group actually started as an enrichment project with grade eights about four years ago,” she said. “They were interested in keeping it on as extracurricular activity because they thought they message we were trying to share was really important. There are just so many people facing mental health challenges, illness, and disorders.”

As their teacher, Scrivener has helped guide and organize the group, but she said the students plan and give directives.

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“They really direct the purpose of the group and what we want to accomplish,” she said.

“We do fundraising and raise awareness in our own school, but we have also bought books for the different schools within Meadow Lake regarding mental health – so kindergarten all the way up to the high school level.”

In other years, the group has had some speakers come in, but this year, the group focussed on involving the greater population of the city.

“This year wanted to make it more community-oriented,” said group member Elisabeth Thompson.

“We decided that we wanted to have people sign the petition, and give optional donations instead of focussing on raising money. We wanted to promote awareness. If somebody’s going through something and they don’t have the help they need it’ll only get worse. I’ve talked to friends going through things and they said that they don’t want to tell anyone because it would be weird and people will judge them. I want to live in a community and in a province where that’s not the case.”

Scrivener said that the petition is asking that the federal government invest more money towards mental health.

“Especially in northern and remote communities,” she added.

“I know that Prairie North [Health Region] is overwhelmed. We’d also like to see the province step in more as well.”

Thompson said that she wanted to be involved in the Stop the Stigma group because knowing about mental health is a good idea at any age.

Eventually we’ll be the adults,” she said. “If we start learning about this when we’re younger we’ll be able to do a lot more when we’re older.”

Scrivener added that she has been impressed with the group members over the years.

I’m really impressed with this group of kids and the all groups the whole way along,” she said. “They’ve dedicated their time and energy to something that a lot of people don’t think about at this age. Elisabeth’s right – they’re our future generations and I want them to be advocates, and I’m so glad to see them doing that now.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @meadowlakeNOW