Youth Mental Health Awareness Week explores self-care with creativity, song

by Jordan Stoopler

This past May, English Montreal School Board (EMSB) students participated in Youth Mental Health Awareness Week. Coordinated by the EMSB’s Student Services Department’s Mental Health Resource Centre (MHRC) and its Spiritual and Community Animation Service, it was designed to encourage ways of self-care, with a special focus on how to connect with others. It ran in conjunction with Canada-wide mental health initiatives.

During the week, students were invited to share their best self-care tips. A special emphasis was made on how to connect with others, all the while taking the time to care for themselves. Many of the tips were displayed on school bulletin boards at Elizabeth Ballantyne and Willingdon elementary schools, LINKS High School and Vincent Massey Collegiate, among others. 

Elizabeth Ballantyne, Westmount Park and Roslyn elementary schools took part in musical workshops led by award-winning singer/songwriter Rob Lutes. Students were charged with writing a song that might lift their spirits up or someone else’s.

“Songs reflect the human experience,” said Dr. Despina Vassiliou, school psychologist and the coordinator of the MHRC. “The workshop allowed students to explore the ways in which songs can be helpful in coping with life’s difficulties.” 

Jessica Wilson, spiritual and community animator, who coordinated the initiative for several EMSB schools, described Lutes’ mental health workshops as educational and innovative. “We have all been told that music heals the soul, but to see it come to life in the students was incredible,” she said. “The students were engaged and invested in learning about the history of song writing. They then came up with their own meaningful and relevant lyrics. The songs they created about mental health were nothing short of inspirational!”

Alison Lydynia’s Grade 5 class at Elizabeth Ballantyne wrote an inspirational track aimed at letting others know they are “not alone” in their respective problems. The song encourages listeners to “go outside” or “scream and shout,” in an effort to put your problems aside. 

“It was phenomenal,” raved Lydynia. “All the students were very engaged!” 

Meanwhile, Westmount Park students in Sandra Petrucci’s Grade 5 class came up with an ode to a treasured lost pet.

“After two years in the pandemic, we all needed to refocus on ourselves and reconnect with others,” said Vassiliou. “Self-care skills are critical in helping us manage difficult situations, which make us resilient and strengthen our mental health.”