York Region District School Board students co-developed and planned a student symposium to inspire and equip student leaders to promote mental health awareness within their schools.
Planned with leaders from Youth S.P.A.C.E. (Students Promoting Acceptance, Connection and Empowerment), the event reflected the needs and perspectives of students.
"Youth SPACE Symposium really does give the student leaders the tools to bring mental health awareness back to their schools and really bring it to life in a way that makes sense for their school community, their peers, their co-leaders at their school," said Patricia Marra-Stapleton, Mental Health Lead, York Region District School Board.
"I think this event is really important because it teaches how you can learn about [mental health] and how you can take care of yourself and different activities that you can do to help," said Maddie, King City P.S.
Highlights from the symposium include:
- Interactive workshops on topics like stress management, coping strategies and creative self-expression.
- Sessions with community partners, including public health nurses.
- Workshops with artists that encouraged students to participate in movement, spoken word poetry and art.
- Inspiring keynote address.
- The opportunity to work with staff champions to develop actionable plans for bringing mental health initiatives back to their schools, supported by Youth S.P.A.C.E. resources.
"The Youth SPACE Student Symposium was actually co-developed and planned with our Youth SPACE student advisors. We're really wanting to ensure that the students that are attending the event are aware that other students within the board have planned the event. That's one way that they can understand that they can bring these types of initiatives back to their school communities," said Paula Vicente, Assistant Coordinator Mental Health, York Region District School Board.
Youth S.P.A.C.E. is an identity-affirming student leadership initiative for grades 6-12. Youth S.P.A.C.E. aims to provide safe, equitable and inclusive student leadership and engagement for the promotion of mental health, well-being and stigma reduction. Youth S.P.A.C.E. is currently in 108 schools across the YRDSB and will be in all schools by 2026-2027 school year.
Hear more from students who are part of the Youth S.P.A.C.E. on the Tune In YRDSB podcast as they speak about social media and mental health, social anxiety and supporting healthy relationships and supporting student mental health during exams.
