World Mental Health Day

On Wednesday October 9, the Mental Health Council organized a dress down day to raise funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association. For this dress down day, all students were asked to wear green, the colour of World Mental Health Day. Additionally, the mental health council worked with Alex Canning, a professional sprint kayaker from Dartmouth Nova Scotia, to put on an inspiring presentation at Wednesday morning’s assembly. At assembly, Alex was introduced by two of our council members, Meredith MacDougall '26 and Casey Underhill '26, and shared an inspiring presentation about perseverance. Alex’s story and experiences inspired us all and left us with the message that important things require perseverance and determination. After assembly, each student gave two dollars to their first-class teacher and mental health council members collected the donations. In total, over $500 was raised for World Mental Health Day and will be donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

 

World Mental Health Day is a day dedicated to talking about mental health. It helps people understand things like depression and anxiety and shows support for those who might feel alone or ashamed because of their mental health struggles. It also reminds us how important it is to take care of our minds, just like we take care of our bodies, and pushes for better access to mental health care for everyone, no matter where they live. The goal is to make sure people know they are not alone, that help is available, and to encourage more kindness and understanding around mental health challenges. That's why we recognize it at KES and wear green because being away from home or even if you are near school can be difficult and you should always be there for anyone no matter what.

 

As the Mental Health Council, our goal is to keep the school a happy and welcoming environment for everyone. We want to reduce the stigma around mental health as well as try and provide a supportive environment that allows students to express themselves and have a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings. We also want to provide methods and recommendations to improve students outlook on mental health and things like stress. We plan on holding events throughout the year and always being there for students in need of help!

Meredith MacDougall and Casey Underhill
Mental Health Council Heads