​The 3rd Annual Mental Health Youth Forum took place today at the Saint John Education Centre, with student and teacher representatives from each of the high schools across ASD-S. Organized through our district’s Educational Support Services (ESS) team, the theme was "Grow Through What You Go Through". With presentations, activities, and discussion throughout the day, participants learned that mental health is not all about mental illness. 

Topics of this year’s forum focused on growing mental wellness through self-care and mind-fullness, building resiliency, embracing failure as an opportunity to become stronger, and the good and bad of social technology. 

Special presenter Mayor Don Darling offered his personal  experience and insights in a valuable and moving discussion about wellness, depression, and thriving despite mental health challenges. 

"If you take away anything from today," Mayor Darling expressed to the participants, "it is that mental wellness starts with knowing yourself and staying true to your values.

- - -

Social-emotional learning is a focus of ASD-S and the District Education Council (DEC) for students of all grade levels throughout the year. Today’s Forum gave participants an opportunity to build community around mental wellness, develop supports, and take away information that they can share with their high schools.