Spreading Kindness, Smashing Stigma: OCDSB Marks Mental Health Week
From May 5th to 11th, the OCDSB shone a spotlight on well-being by marking Mental Health Week. To help families explore this year's theme of “Unmasking Mental Health,” the District shared daily activities designed to spark conversations and challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction.
Many schools also embraced the week, implementing school-wide events, classroom discussions and collaborative displays. Here's a look at some of the impactful ways schools brought Mental Health Week to life:
Osgoode Township High School kicked off their week of activities with an energetic "Smash the Stigma" staff-versus-students volleyball game. Wednesday invited the school community to add their expressions of thanks to a growing gratitude tree. Thursday focused on kindness, offering students the chance to write uplifting notes for seniors at the Osgoode Care Centre. Finally, the school capped off the week with a self-care inspiration board, where students could leave and take uplifting messages to nurture their well-being.
A.Y. Jackson Secondary School’s Mental Health Week was a smashing success, starting with students throwing water balloons at stigmatizing words on a wall and "Spiking the Stigma" in a spirited Spike Ball tournament. A Gratitude Tree blossomed with messages of appreciation, and students spread kindness by painting encouraging words on rocks and crafting cards for a local retirement home. The week culminated with a visit from five adorable St. John's Therapy Dogs, who brought wagging tails and a calming presence to the school.
Sir Robert Borden High School’s intermediate students participated in a “Kindness Tree” initiative, which aimed to ensure every student felt seen, heard and valued. Educational Assistants facilitated a "flower activity," underscoring the profound impact of words. Students were tasked with identifying five positive qualities about a randomly assigned classmate, then writing those qualities on the petals of a paper flower. In total, 360 student flowers formed the branches, and 25 staff member flowers represented the tree trunk. This initiative built on the previous week's Youth Conference, where many students participated in a mental health workshop to brainstorm coping mechanisms and positive mental health strategies.
Maplewood Secondary School celebrated its first-ever Mental Health Week with a series of impactful events. Tuesday kicked off with "Smashing the Stigma," an event designed to break down mental health barriers. On Wednesday, students participated in Self-Care and Self-Love Day, sharing their personal mental health strategies and highlighting what they appreciate about themselves. The week concluded with students decorating the school sidewalks with uplifting and inspirational chalk messages.
Merivale High School hosted its first-ever Community Resource Fair, which brought together a diverse array of community organizations and more than 500 students from Grades 9 to 12. Organized by dedicated staff and students in the Merivale Minds Matter club, the fair connected young people with essential support services right in their local community, as they filled out their “Community Booth Passports” for a chance to win prizes.
These are just a few of the diverse initiatives that took place across the OCDSB during Mental Health Week. The events highlight a strong commitment to fostering open conversations about mental health, reducing stigma, and equipping students with valuable tools for well-being. By engaging students in meaningful ways, schools are helping to build a more supportive and understanding environment for everyone.
