Lloydminster Comprehensive High School student Ryan Rekimowich, left, joins other students to make stress balls by stuffing flour into balloons. It was one of the fun activities during the school’s Mental Health Fair on Friday. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The smile metre was off the charts at a mental health fair held at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School to raise awareness about anxiety and depression, etc.
The event went ahead on March 10 in the gym following some mental health trivia and a few other activities in the lead-up to the fair overseen by the student leadership group.
“We also did free cookies to boost morale and we have this mental health fair with a whole bunch of little booths with different organizations that deal with mental health,” said leadership student Rhya Payne.
The Lloydminster Region Health Foundation was one of many community health organizations on hand to spread the news about mental health resources available to students.
Foundation CEO Stephanie Munro was handing out stickers with a “you are a blessing” message along with information on Project Sunrise’s mental health initiatives.
“Students are very excited. They are excited to put a sticker on their mirror to remind themselves every day that they are a blessing,” said Munro.
“Below on all those stickers is the Lloydminster Mental Health website, so they can always know where to go, if they or a loved one or a friend is seeking some mental health support.”
Angela Clements from The Green Willow Healing with Nature was part of a booth demonstrating a unique blend of holistic healing to students.
“We do energy healing and sound healing, so it can help with depression and anxiety. It can help with any blockages you have in your body,” said Clements speaking about students.
“Sound healing will improve their way of life.”
Green Willow shares space at Hart & Soul Essentials studio, owned and operated by Tara Harty, who added to the sound energy by beating her brass symbol.
The fair was just what the doctor ordered for Natalie Wiebe who teaches phys-ed and wellness at the Comp.
“This event is so important. We have put a priority on mental health at the provincial level and here at the division level,” said Wiebe.
“We are looking at a holistic type of wellness where we are not only taking care of our physical body but we are also taking care of our mental health in yoga and meditation.”
Wiebe says they were looking for an opportunity for students and staff to be able to not only participate in activities that support mental health, but also an opportunity to gather information and resources within our community.
“So our mental health fair today just speaks to that,” said Wiebe.
She was also thrilled by the response from community players to participate in the fair.
Jim Taylor, owner of Grindin Gears Bikes ‘n Boards, brought a bike to the fair to make the point to students that exercise makes you feel good.
“Getting outside and enjoying the outside can be really great for mental health,” said Taylor.
“I’m just trying to encourage kids to get outside and ride and calm down and enjoy what we have that’s free to do. That’s what it’s all about.”
Taylor says being active is great for mental health and he finds it works for him.
“It works for everybody. You go outside and do some activity and feel better,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a whole bunch of students including Ryan Rekimowich were making themselves feel good by filling balloons with flour and then squeezing them.
“We are making stress balls for stress relief and I think they’re just to play with,” said the teen.
