Previously known as the Youth Mental Health Council, one group of students has been taking the initiative to dissolve mental health stigma within the Weyburn Comprehensive School. Now operating under the guidance of JACK, the Weyburn Chapter is growing their support systems to better lead the fight in removing barriers to good mental health. The work is done in a number of ways: Through day-to-day interactions in the hallways, events designed to build awareness of mental health resources available at the school, and by encouraging peers to share their personal experiences with the stressors in their lives. The student-run council places priority on education and open discussion to dispel the stigmas that hold their peers back from getting the help they need.

One campaign recently fielded by the Chapter was a community board where students could post their current struggles anonymously. By displaying the common stressors that students were experiencing, it built common ground for those holding their struggles inside to feel validated and understand that they are not alone. Members of the JACK Chapter also gave their time to prepare young students for their transition into high school, a mission that helped pave the way for a tighter-knit community in the hallways. Chapter member Nia described the team's experience at Legacy Park Elementary School.

"We joined in on their Wellness Day," she explained. "They had activities relating to the Medicine Wheel, so we broke off into groups and worked specifically with different classes and individuals from Legacy Park."

"It was a fun day," added Semi. "They definitely remembered it, we see them in the hallways now and they always wave," she boasted. The entire group reiterated this sentiment, sharing their own interactions in the halls. 

"It gave them a familiar face to see in the hallways," said Nia, stating the importance of their visit. "If they ever have any questions, they feel like they can come to us. And I remember when I was younger, coming into this big school with all those older kids was intimidating, so I think this really helped ease their transition."

The importance of fostering a community that is capable of sharing struggles with one another lays in the ability to identify common barriers that prevent access to mental health services. Making friends early, as they did with the Legacy Park students transitioning to the Comp., is an important step. However, the real work comes when these common obstacles are identified, and it takes a mature approach to dissolve those boundaries.

Jack ChapterThe Weyburn JACK Chapter and their mental health resources board, posted near the school's cafeteria. 

One such boundary that was identified was the 'old school' mindset that parents can pass on to their children. When children are taught to disregard their problems as unimportant simply due to their age, the damage can compound over a lifetime. Instead, learning to properly deal with age-appropriate stressors can provide the tools and habits that an individual needs for a healthy and fulfilling life. Semi broke it down by sharing the conversations she has heard from her peers.

"They might say things like, 'kids shouldn't be stressed because they have nothing going on'," she explained. "I've also heard things like, 'you shouldn't be stressed, it's just homework. You don't have any real problems yet.' And that can be really damaging!"

Negatively downplaying the stressors of youth builds barriers in the minds of those that struggle. It holds them back from seeking help and divulging the problems that could be eating them up inside. These sorts of reactions from parents discourage children from seeking help at their current age, which becomes a lifelong habit of denial and self-blame. Education at the source is the key to breaking this cycle, which is how the JACK Chapter chose to address this common problem.

"We hosted a mental health Expo at our student teacher conference night," said Camryn. "We just set up a booth for our Chapter and people came and asked questions, and we handed pamphlets out as well."

"[Mental health] starts with the parents," added Semi. "They're the voices of the house, and kids look to them for guidance to handle their problems. So, if parents can understand these problems and learn how to deal with them, then so can their kids."

"We need to validate each other's struggles and encourage people to actually talk about them, not just when we reach our breaking point."

To plan their outreach events, the Weyburn Chapter can sometimes meet weekly in preparation. During regular operation, they generally meet once a month to review and discuss materials outlined by JACK through online training. By completing their training and staying up to date with online education, the Weyburn Chapter can access a seemingly endless budget to fund their endeavors, and are highly encouraged by the organization to do so. While the student-members of the Chapter are the champions of their cause, they were also very quick to credit their Adult Lead, Ms. Maria Escobar, for her guidance and support of their initiative.

Escobar is a teacher at the Weyburn Comprehensive School who was hired for the Mental Health Capacity Building Program. There, she utilizes her Social Education degree to bring awareness to the issues that ail members of her community. In her words, "it's about educating society on how to be more inclusive to people that face barriers, or those at risk of exclusion." 

It was Ms. Escobar that assisted the students in joining the network of JACK Chapters across Canada, opening up a whole new world of resources for their disposal. But, as that door opens, a new challenge presents itself: Many members in Weyburn will soon graduate. 

"One thing we're really needing right now are new members," said Semi. "If you join, and do the training, you'll get the funding to use how you need in the school. But it's also really good for applying for scholarships, it's a big program and great for volunteering hours."

Escobar resounded that fact, adding that full-blown membership is not an immediate requirement for any students curious about joining the JACK Chapter. 

"We would love it if students joined in for our events," she said. "If they want to get involved but don't want to do the certification training right away, they can also sign up as a volunteer and I can give them volunteer hours towards their class."

The Weyburn JACK Chapter hopes to see membership reach 12-15 students, especially with a majority of members ageing out soon. Because diverse backgrounds and experiences are highly valued, it is difficult to describe the ideal participant. In simplest terms, an ideal member of the JACK Chapter is anyone willing to be the voice of their peers and work to remove the stigmas that oppress them. To learn more about the organization, you can visit the jack.org website and see the wave of young leaders across the nation who are breaking barriers within their own communities. 

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