LAKELAND – Over the last two years, Lakeland Catholic School Division (LCSD) has been putting a concerted effort in addressing students' mental health and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to address the peaks and valleys of childhood and adolescence.
Through Lakeland Catholic’s Mental Health Matters Campaign, which is sponsored by Imperial Cold Lake, the school division focuses on topics directly related to students’ mental health and how they can help someone who is struggling.
In September, focus is directed towards preparing for back-to-school anxiety and fears. During the first month of classes, peer support groups are put in place for the duration of the school year.
The focus of the campaign in February is on bullying. In March, the division makes sure students know where they can get help and access resources, as well as how to provide support to others.
Other focuses throughout the school year include “Spring into a Health Mindset,” cyberbullying awareness and “How to Address Exam Anxiety.”
At the beginning of the year, Lakeland Catholic held its second annual Mental Health Matters Poster Design Contest. While students could focus on any topic that relates to mental health, both winners of the poster contest created designs that focused on anti-bullying.
The act of bullying has a significant impact on youth and mental health. According to Public Safety Canada, “Bullying is associated with mental health problems including eating disorders and self-harm. Victims are also more likely to have low self-esteem and suffer because of this.”
Holy Cross Elementary School student Wesley DeCastro and Light of Christ Catholic School student Shylit-Rae Major-Cardinal were selected as this year’s winners in their respective age categories.
Grade 6 student DeCastro won in the Kindergarten to Grade 6 age category. He said his design was inspired by the class's most recent focus in art class – graffiti.
“It feels great to win. I was really surprised,” DeCastro said, adding another inspiration was the overall message of ‘be a buddy not a bully.’
The winner of the Grade 7 to Grade 12 category, Major-Cardinal, was taken aback by her win also. Her design features anime-like characters with the slogan “Stop Bullying.”
Major-Cardinal entered the contest because it was a way to express herself in her favourite art form.
The winning designs were printed and displayed in all Lakeland Catholic Schools.
