Supporting mental health in our programs

This week is the 70th anniversary of the annual Mental Health Week, hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The objective of Mental Health Week is to shift societal beliefs and perceptions about mental health, with this year’s theme being understanding our emotions.

Recognizing, labeling and accepting our feelings are all part of protecting and promoting good mental health for everyone, something that we pay close attention to with our participants at Phelps Helps. With the difficulties many have faced with the pandemic, students and community members are even more vulnerable to negative mental health issues. To ensure that each of our students are supported at this time, program coordinators have been regularly checking in with students, not only on their grades, but on working on how their mental health has been. This includes talking about recognizing what influences our emotions, discovering how our emotions affect the way we think or act, taking action when our emotional response isn’t helpful and learning to accept them. It is clear that relying on others and sharing our very normal feelings of sadness, fear and worry is hugely important during this unusual time of stress, uncertainty and loss.

Our Bishop’s practicum students were also able to host a workshop for our high schoolers on how to identify someone with depression and ways to ask for help. We hope that by having these conversations with the students, mental health will be an easier subject to discuss and will help promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being.

If you or someone you love is struggling, there is hope and help: • Please contact your local CMHA. • Visit www.cmha.ca/bounceback. • Visit the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal.

• Thinking of suicide? Please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free in Canada (1866-277-3553 in Quebec).

Phelps Aide Phelps Helps was founded in 2012 and has grown organically from a single high school tutoring program to six unique programs, providing the Stanstead area with free educational and career support. For more information or to volunteer, please email us at info@phelpshelps. ca, visit our website www. phelpshelps.ca or call our offices at 819-704-0799.