Georgian promotes understanding during Mental Health and Wellness Week

Nov. 11, 2015

It’s time to take off the mask at Georgian College – the mask of “everything is okay.” During Mental Health and Wellness Awareness Week, Nov. 16 to 20, Georgian is holding a range of activities for staff and students in Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound to promote wellness, encourage conversations and provide new information about mental health.

There will be in-class presentations on mental health, exhibit booths, mask-making, and visits by therapy dogs. The students will also be treated to free breakfast during the week at the Barrie Campus.

The week features two guest speakers who will focus on cyberbullying and student-athlete mental health.

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Georgian hosts April Reimer, the founder of #tweetsweet. During the 2013-2014 hockey season, April was cyberbullied through Twitter after her husband James, a goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was not performing his best. April started the #tweetsweet campaign to challenge students to say positive things online. In return she uses her resources to reward students for contributing to a healthy online community. Staff and students will be attending April’s presentation which will take place in the Georgian Theatre. [Members of the public are not able to attend, but media are invited to cover the event.]

“April will be speaking on her own personal bullying experience,” says Karyn Baker, Project Lead, Campus Mental Health Partnerships. “She is an amazing individual who has taken what was meant to be painful, and transformed it into something incredibly positive.”

Georgian varsity athletes, coaches and staff will be treated to the “Mental Health Huddle” on Thursday, Nov. 19. The Huddle is a presentation by Samantha DeLenardo, program director and co-founder of the Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative (SAMHI). The SAMHI is a non-profit champion for the mental health of Canada’s varsity athletes. Founded by two former student-athletes, SAMHI is dedicated to reducing mental illness stigma in sport, facilitating access to the resources needed to maintain and improve mental health, and advocating on behalf of student-athletes experiencing mental illness.

“We are very excited to welcome Samantha to the Barrie Campus during our Mental Health and Wellness Awareness week,” says Jeff Harris, Intercollegiate Co-ordinator, Athletics.

“Our student-athletes, coaches and support staff will be a part of a mental health huddle that will enhance their understanding of mental health, and build their knowledge of services on campus and in the community.”