Mindstrong young minds high school Workshop details:

• Length of presentation: 45-60 minutes
• The workshop will include an interactive presentation led by the doctors and residents of the Jewish General Hospital Psychiatry Department
• The focus of the presentation is mental health education and sensitization.
  This will include:

1. Teaching students how to evaluate their own mental health and recognize the signs of mental illness
2. Raising awareness to help break the stigma associated with mental illness
3. Providing information on resources for students and families in need
4. An interactive discussion with the medical staff and the students
5. A personal story from a guest speaker (TBD) regarding his/her experience with mental illness

 
Suggested pre and post Mindstrong Young Minds Activities:

•  Identify Ambassadors/student committee to promote awareness activities and engage with ambassadors from other schools
• Positive Post-its: Supply students with Post-It Notes and encourage them to leave personal messages of positivity and encouragement on their peers’ lockers
• Play inspirational songs to at lunch time (suggestions: The Middle by Jimmy Eats World, Beautiful Day by U2, Confident by Demi Lovato, Perfect by Pink, Survivor by Destiny’s Child, I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly)
• Gratitude Grafitti: Place large sheets of paper on the walls of school. Provide students with markers to write positive motivational messages
• High-five Hallways: Encourage students to high five their peers as they walk down the halls or enter school
• Yoga/mindfulness activities
• Create a Facebook page to post messages of encouragement, resiliency and support
• Have students create posters providing statistics, facts, definitions, myths, and misconceptions about mental illnesses. Include strategies on how everyone can take care of their mental health.
• Invite parents to your school for an information night

 
Fundraising ideas:

•  Fundraising lunch
• Student-teacher basketball game
• Dress down day