STIGMA IN SCHOOL

A journalism article.

When people think of health, they often think of it in the physical sense and are quick to check if their bodies are in trouble. Although many don’t stop to think about another aspect of their health, mental health. Being mentally healthy is something many people don’t take into consideration, therefore it’s something that may never be taken care of. This is because of stigma; stigma is a word that is often said but not necessarily understood. While it is a pre-conceived notion about a particular group or topic, it can mean so much more to others. There are those who struggle with stigma and are forced to live through it every day. Furthermore, because of this stigma many who have a mental illness never ask for help. In the world today 1 in 5 people deal with a mental illness, which begs the question of how many of these individuals are students? According to CAMH, a center for addiction and mental health, 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood and adolescence and young people between the ages of 15- 24 are more likely to experience a mental illness. It is a serious issue that effects student of all ages, so what are schools across Canada doing to try and help this cause? That question is not as easy to answer.

To some April may just be another month, but for others April is a month of hope and acceptance because it is Stop the Stigma month. For the students of Blessed Cardinal Newman High School, this month is especially significant because of their very own Stop the Stigma Team. For team leader April Bayona, age 16, she reveals her hopes for the team stating, “When we started out, our goal was to introduce mental health and focus more on mental wellness on students…some mental health activities can include yoga, meditation, art therapy (aka colouring), etc. We are starting off small and trying to lead into a legacy and introduce students slowly to mental health.” Blessed Cardinal Newman is one of the few schools implementing ways for students to be aware of mental illness and find ways to cope with their issues. Awareness and getting the word out is what the members of the STS Team really want the school to focus on. For Miles, age 17, he really believes that “It’s important for people to know about what stigma is and just anything in general because if you don’t know what it truly is then you’ll never be able to understand it fully.” Some students reveal how the team impacts their perspective as individuals, like Jessica Scriver, age 17 who says that “Kids in high school who deal with something as big as a mental illness do not necessarily want to go and talk to a therapist, talk to a parent, they want to turn to their friends and those they feel comfortable with and I want to be that friend.” While Julia, age 16 states that “it made me become more open-minded and aware of other people’s feelings, I try to make sure I don’t harm anyone in any way whether it be emotional or physical,” They continue to make a difference in the school by providing a number of activities both educational, fun, and constantly spread awareness to the community.

Unfortunately most schools do not have the resources to have these teams and some don’t even take into consideration how important mental health is. Recently, the Toronto Catholic District Schoolboard is now initiating a Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy from 2015-2018. Their overall goal is to continue to raise awareness, build capacity, and provide a coordinated and evidence-based/informed Catholic centered approach to mental health, engage partners and staff in supporting student mental health and well-being within TCDSB. They believe that Catholic faith and mental health go hand in hand because both express compassion and dignity of all persons. Not only do they aim to ensure that each TCDSB school, be a mentally healthy school that demonstrates pervasive caring but also that it promotes well-being and achievement for students, staff, and the community.

Although this new strategy is not only well-needed and accommodating to many individuals, it has been a long time coming. According to psychology teacher, Mrs. Ercoli, she believes “What a great initiative. I would suggest implementing the program even earlier then grade 9 and 10, maybe grade 7 or 8 to begin its introduction. I would like to add that this should have started a long time ago.” Though it is quite a positive thing that students these days are more educated on stereotypes, for Melissa Phan, age 20, going to school with this initiative would have been helpful. As a teen living with depression during high school she said “They’re raising awareness but the real question is are there resources for those dealing with mental health issues (example: therapists, psychiatrists, etc.) Also, just because they are spreading the word about mental illness doesn’t mean that people accept that it is a real thing.” It is true that in the past there was little funding for schools across Canada. Though most provinces need to work on this, Alberta has started a pilot program since 2015 called EMPATHY which is designed to solely support children and youth with school-based mental health programs. This program can not only help students everywhere, but also open the minds of those who may not know this issue, and end stigma one step at a time.

One flaw in the grand master plan of the schoolboard is that they still haven’t fully taken into consideration the wants and needs of the students themselves or even some of their staff. They are finally focusing on the connection between student mental health and student achievement but there is a significant difference between accepting that there is an issue and doing something proactive about it. 16 year old Cecilia Rosario says “I feel like the school board should anonymously listen to what kids need and get their opinion on what they need in order for them to get better rather than having adults think what is better for them. Though school is centred on trying to help students and is find ways to improve learning as a whole, it can be a negative trigger in someone’s life. These days, teenagers are equipped with the task of deciding their future at the ripe age of 17 and on top of this, they have assignments and exams to think about. For Angelica Sanchez, age 18, she states “School stresses me out. I’m always anxious, feeling down and tired. It just drains my entire energy.” Teachers often see firsthand their students dealing with these issues in their very own classes. Ms. Ercoli opens up about this saying “School has a major impact on triggering mental illness. If someone is predisposed, there are many triggers in school. Stress of good grades, choosing careers, fitting in with peers can trigger a teen’s mental illness.” There is a lot to build on as a community but nonetheless, all anyone ever asks for is that they try and with this policy hopefully it can grow until the wants and needs of the majority are met.

Stigma in schools is no secret and it has been going on for decades, however recently changes are being made. For so long, the issue has been taken for granted but now there are those who see the error of their ways. Though staff and teachers make it their priority to help and teach these students throughout the course of their high school career, it’s what they take with them even after high school that impacts their outlook. By speaking out against the stigma and all the negative things that bind individuals and keep them from getting help, taking a stand for this cause and being there for them will make a difference. Mental illness affects 1 in 5 people, meaning that individuals most likely know someone who has it or is dealing with it themselves. There are now outlets where people can seek help and schools are equipped with guidance counsellors and new strategies to offer help. However, some schools are still not a privileged. It starts with the Toronto District Catholic School Board but hopefully it doesn’t end there.

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