Recently, four classes of Grade 5-7 students from Bracebridge Public School, Monck Public School, and Muskoka Falls Public School took part in a mental health awareness activity that encouraged students to learn about local community partners.
The activity was inspired by classroom conversations on Bell Let’s Talk Day and students wrote letters to representatives from Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions and Mind-Aid Muskoka.
“I went into classes to talk about mental health awareness and shared a little bit of information about the community partners. Students were then encouraged to write letters asking questions about the organization and/or general mental health questions,” explained Trillium Lakelands District School Board Bracebridge mental health counsellor, Jocelyn Suddaby, who was responsible for facilitating the initiative. “Community partners shared answers to the questions asked and students gained new mental health knowledge, plus an understanding of where to access some mental health supports in the community.”
