Mental Health Awareness Toolkit - Children's Mental Health Ontario

Children’s Mental Health Ontario’sYOUTH ACTION COMMITTEEMental Health Awareness Toolkit

The Youth Action CommitteeThe Youth Action Committee (YAC) is Children’s Mental HealthOntario’s (CMHO) New Mentality Committee. The New Mentality isa program that engages youth to improve mental health servicesfor children and youth.CMHO represents the providers and supporters of communitybasedchildren’s mental health services in Ontario. It championsthe right of every child and youth in Ontario to mental health andwell-being.The YAC’s mission is to each year, develop and assist in implementinga plan of action that reflects the interests and prioritiesof youth as they relate to the mission and activities of CMHO. TheYAC will also work on a stigma-reducing project to raise child andyouth mental health awareness.This year, the YAC has developed and produced the followingtoolkit to inspire students to start talking about mental health!For more information on the YAC, visit:www.kidsmentalhealth.caIf you would like to get involved with the YAC,contact Bronwyn at bronwyn@cmho.orgPage 2YAC Toolkit

Raising Awareness1 in 5 Ontario youth struggles with their mental health. But thegood news is help is available and treatment works. Yet stigmastill prevents young persons with mental health difficulties fromgetting the help they need.The purpose of this toolkit is to provide students across Ontariowith ideas for engaging their friends, family and fellow studentsto speak up about mental health and raise child and youth mentalhealth awareness. Mental illness can affect anyone, at any time,regardless of age, race or gender.Take time out to use the ideas in this toolkit to educate friendsand family members on the facts about mental illness; howstigma can hurt people struggling with a mental health difficultyand more importantly, how you can help reduce the stigma surroundingmental health.To learn more about child and youth mental health, see our mentalhealth resources page included at the back of this toolkit. It isimportant to be informed about mental health if we are to raiseawareness. There are also some great numbers and places tocontact if you or someone you know needs mental health services.Page 3YAC Toolkit

Raise Awareness!Host School SeminarsThe purpose of hosting school seminars is to promote mentalhealth awareness and reduce stigma, encouraging prevention andpositive mental health. Seminars could be organized into 2 parts:1. Teachers and other Staff2. StudentsThe seminar for teachers and staff could include speakers fromthe child and youth mental health profession, individuals withtheir own mental health challenges, and community speakers.Topics discussed could be those related to the age of the children/youth attending the school; information could be presentedby speakers, videos and other presentations appropriate for theaudience.The information presented could include mental illness facts andsymptoms, common treatments, community, and other resourcesfor help, as well as ways to promote positive mental health.The seminar for students could be used as a discussion forum toengage each other about mental health. Students could be brokenup into groups and a group leader could be assigned to startand keep the conversation on track. Participants could discusstheir own experiences with and how they feel about mentalhealth, what they would like to see done about mental health andwhat they can do to inspire positive mental health.For a list of mental health resources, see page 9 of this toolkit.Page 4YAC Toolkit

Raise Awareness!Wear a Mask DayThe purpose of Wear A Mask Day is to promote awareness andreduce stigma around mental illness. As a one day event, childrenand youth could be invited to create a mask or purchase a maskof their choice to wear to school during the school day.Wearing a mask helps students understand how mental illnesscan overtake one’s personal identity so that all others see is themental illness—and not the person. In this case, mental illness isrepresented by a mask.At the end of the school day, the mask is to be removed to representthe removal of stigma towards mental illness and the abilityfor one to overcome mental illness.The creation of a mask could be used as an activity itself andcould include masks made out of paper, paper mâché, cardboard,etc. Students can decorate their masks as they wish, using artwork,paint, sparkles, feathers, etc..Page 5YAC Toolkit

Raise Awareness!Distribute Information PackagesThe purpose of Information Packages is to disseminate mentalhealth information to parents, students, teachers and otherschool staff to help identify mental health concerns, promotepositive mental health, and reduce stigma. Information could begiven in a booklet, pamphlet, DVD or any medium available.Information in the packages could include mental health facts,common issues, symptoms, treatment, community and other resourcesas well as positive ideas.Packages should be user friendly and written in a language that iseasy for everyone to understand. They could be given out duringschool, at staff meetings, or at parent-teacher meetings. Thepackages should also be available for pick-up in guidance offices,as well as mailed to students and their families if possible.For a list of mentalhealth resources tohelp you developyour InformationPackage, visit page9 of this toolkit.Page 6YAC Toolkit

Play the Name GameSometimes, a smile can make someone’s day. Someone with amental health difficulty may not have any physical signs. Whensomeone receives positive feedback, it can help them to look pastthe negative thoughts they have about themselves… somethingso simple can make people feel so good!Supplies needed:- Pens/ pencils for each participant- Blank, recycled (if possible) paper for each participantSteps:Raise Awareness!1. Seat a group of 10 or more students in a circle.2. Distribute 1 pen or pencil and 1 sheet of blank, recycled paperto each participant.3. Each person writes their name on their sheet of paper – theymay write it anywhere on the page.4. Each person must then pass their paper to the person sittingto their right.5. Now, each person must anonymously write one positive thingabout the person whose name is on the piece of paper.6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until everyone has had the opportunity towrite something nice about each person.7. Once every person’s paper has been sent around the circle andreturned to them, they may read their comments.Optional: Each person is to say one thing they really enjoyedreading about themselves.Page 7YAC Toolkit

Help UsRaise Awareness!Online Toolkit Evaluation FormThe Youth Action Committee’s goal is to raise mental healthawareness for youth. In order to attain this goal, we need toknow what youth think and feel about mental health, and how itaffects them in their lives. Help us help youth by telling us whatyou thought about our toolkit. By telling us what works well, andnot so well, you can help raise awareness about youth mentalhealth. Fill out our online toolkit evaluation form and have yoursay at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z326D58Page 10YAC Toolkit

Meet the Youth Action Committee!CassandraCassandra loves to dance and educatethe public about mental health. She lovesworking with animals and people. Cassandrais dealing with her own personalissues while trying to break stigma aboutmental health.PaigePaige became an activist for mentalhealth when she took a course at herhigh school and simply fell in love withlearning about it. She became involvedwith the YAC for personal interest and togain experience for her future.Ari is the New Mentality’s program assistant.He is a Social Work student at SenecaCollege and has helped the YAC arrangeits toolkit. He is an honouray YACmember.AriTylaTyla is passionate about mental healthand strives so that people, particularlythose diagnosed with schizophrenia,don’t feel isolated. She wants to helpothers speak openly and honestly abouttheir experiences.ClintPage 12NoPictureAvailableClint is an advocate for child and youthmental health. He joined the Youth ActionCommittee to raise child and youthmental health awareness.YAC Toolkit