Student Action Guide

7/30/2019 Student Action Guide

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York Region T.A.M.I.Coaltion

The York Region T.A.M.I. Coalition gratefully acknowledges thebrilliant work of the Durham T.A.M.I. Coalition.

It is their Student Action Guide that forms the basis for this document.


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November 2012

Welcome to the Stomping Out Stigma Student Action Guide!This action guide is designed to assist students with their plans to reduce stigma within theschool community.

Why this work is important?Stigma is a barrier for youth to ask for help. In fact, many people living with a mental illness

say the stigma they face is often worse than the illness itself.

What is Stigma?Stigma is made up of two parts: negative and unfavorable attitudes, and negative behaviours

that result from those attitudes. Stigma can look like: stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination,

bullying, name calling, and rejection. Some people experience a loss of friends and distance

from family members two primary ingredients of a support network.

And, when a person hears the same message enough times, they can begin to believe it.

Even though at some level, they know its not true, they begin to believe the negative

messages. This is called self-stigma.

Where to start?Here! Some of you reading this Student Action Guide, have attended a T.A.M.I. Summit so

may have a good idea already what you want to do. For others, no worries! This document

will give you some ideas.


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Okay, here it is....

Step 1Gather together interested people who can assist you in developing your idea to stomp out stigma.No doubt there are others in the school who also have ideas. How great to get everyone together

and put all the ideas on a board. If youve been to a T.A.M.I. Summit, invite the other students who

attended and ask them to connect with their friends.

You will also need the support of a school administrator and/or teacher who can act as your

champion within the school.

Step 2Call your first meeting. Send out notices, put it on the announcements and let everyone know

where and when it is.

Dont forget to take notes and let people know what it is they are expected to do. (See sample

Meeting Notes)

Plan the rest of your meetings dates and times now so that people can put it in their agendas.

Step 3Spend some time making an action plan. Look at the activities that have been suggested, think

up your own, be creative and have fun. (See Activity Page)

Get people to be in charge of activities that really interest them. Leading something is very

empowering!

Fill in your calendar of activities remembering that the best way to make change is to do a broad

range of activities over a longer period of time. (See Activity Calendar)

Step 4Move ahead with your action plans and host some activities.

Dont forget to talk about each activity once it is over so that people can express what they liked,

didnt like and what they would do differently next time.


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Event Planning CalendarTip: Write in all school-wide events to that you can find the best place for your event.

Month Event/s

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June


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Activity Planning Sheet

Idea: __________________________________________________________

Activity:

Purpose:

Target:

Supplies:

Resources/Cost:

Marketing:

Checklist of Steps

1. Schedule a meeting with the working group to discuss details and assign responsibilities.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


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Activity Ideas


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BRAIN FAIR

Activity: Host a mental health wellness fair at your school.

Purpose: To highlight the different community agencies that support youth in theCommunity. Focus on agencies that address mental health, substance use, sexualhealth, employment, stress, general health etc.

Target: The entire school community. After school, evening, lunch hour, or during the dayso that classes may tour the facility.

Resources: List of agencies to contact. (search online for agencies in York Region); Letters /invitations to participate (email and regular mail.)

Costs: Use of the gymnasium or large space at the school for one day.Stamps or access to email for invitations.

Marketing: Create posters and post in the school.Send notices to teachers to arrange class tours of the fair.

Checklist of Steps

Recruit a staff member to help you get organized and then schedule a meeting with the workinggroup to discuss details and assign responsibilities

Pick a date for your Brain Fair and get approval from school administration for the day

Once approved, begin your marketing strategy. Design posters for the event, put out a notice inthe school newsletter, get support of your student council, design a series of announcements forthe event.

Develop a master list of agencies and send them invitations to participate and then track thosethat have confirmed their attendance

Put out enough tables and chairs for each agency

Remember: this activity is geared to help to reduce the cycle of stigma in your school

community.

Resources

The internet or available resource guide to determine which agencies to invite


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CREATIVE MINDS

Activity: Host a creative arts show.

Purpose: To highlight the power of the creative mind. To highlight creative expression as apositive coping mechanism for stress.

Target: The entire creative school community!

Resources: Speak with the Art, English and Drama departments. Ask if they willparticipate in some way, and/or help with organizing the event.

Costs: Art supplies; ask people to bring in supplies not in use in their homes.

Marketing: Announcements; Posters in the hallwaysSupport and promotion from the Art Department

Checklist of Steps

Schedule a meeting with the working group to discuss details and assign responsibilities.

Pick a title/ theme for the contest and set the parameters as to what kinds of creative art projectsyou are looking for and what types of mediums you will allow. (will Drama and Music beincluded?) A registration form should be created.

Speak with the Art Department: Would any teachers donate some class time to students

interested in participating or open up the art room during lunch or after school? For art classeswith independent assignments, could an entry in this be counted as an assignment?

Select a date for submissions. Select a date range for displaying the works.

Work with your school administration to have a designated area of the school approved todisplay the works of art.

Plan a specific day to host an actual art show (during the display days) and invite the media into cover the event. Ensure the message highlights creative expression as a positive copingmechanism for stress.

Resources

School art department


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QUOTABLE QUOTES

Activity: Line school hallways with famous quotes on banner paper. Have the quotes focuson making change, the power of individuals, kindness, compassion, social change.

How about reading a new quote each morning on the announcements, then have itposted in the hallway before lunchtime. Doing the activity like this, a new quotecould be added each day for month. Have a box that students can deposit quotesinto and if they are suitablepaint and post them on a banner.

Purpose: To highlight the fact that the power to eliminate all stigma lies in the hands of theindividual.

Target: The entire school community.

Resources: Quotes available on the internet and in the libraries. Banner paper, paints,markers.

Costs: Art supplies; speak to the art department about what they can donate.

Marketing: Announcements; Posters

Checklist of Steps

Recruit a school staff member to help you get organized and then schedule a meeting with theworking group to discuss details and assign responsibilities

Create a schedule of quote painting and readings.

Decide on the length of time the activity will run.

Decide on where the quotes will be posted. If you are worried about graffiti, try to place thebanner at ceiling height.

Resources

School library, internet to get quotes; use ones on the next page.


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Quotable Quotes

"The ideas that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty and truth."Albert Einstein

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world." AnneFrank

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the

world."

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"In Compassion lies the world's true strength."

Buddha

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our

own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

The Dalai Lama

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless."

Mother Teresa

"When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And

it'll become like wildfire."Whoopi Goldberg

"How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world."

William Shakespeare

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and

do nothing.

Albert Einstein

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the

only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead


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BABBLE ABOUT THE BIBLIO

Activity: Establish lists of recent books and/or articles that talk about or portray mentalillness and have discussion groups about the materials.

Purpose: To encourage dialogue on how mental illness is presented in these works and howthey apply to their own lives or people they know.

Target: Students and teachers who enjoy reading.

Resources: Meeting room spaces, books/articles

Costs: Limited; books available from the library, articles available on line.


Checklist of Steps

Schedule a meeting with the working group to discuss details and assign responsibilitiesincluding the following steps

Obtain staff/administration support for your effortsseek a staff sponsor if possible

Develop a list of books ask the school librarian and English teachers for material that may alsofit into current curriculum

Make posters to encourage people to attend promote the chosen selection (you could host abook club meeting, or choose a popular current book and invite people already familiar with it toshare their thoughts and experiences

Arrange meetings outside of school time or request time within appropriate classes to explorethe topic

Enlist staff support in allowing announcements to be made about the event both prior to itoccurring and as a review afterwards. If your school has a school paper, consider how you caninclude articles and/or book reviews related to mental health and stigma.

Resources

School library, local library and school library staff and resources


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POSTER CONTEST

Activity: Host a poster design contest within your school. The poster should highlight thenegative impact of stigma and/or what you can do to reduce stigma.

Purpose: To offer a chance for students to express their creativity and create posters to bedisplayed within the school, further delivering the anti-stigma message.

Target: Creative students in the school.

Resources: Posters, art supplies, people to act on the judging panel; judging forms, contestentry forms.

Costs: Prizes (maybe local businesses would donate?)

Marketing: Announcements; Posters; Presentations to school art classes

Checklist of Steps

Schedule a meeting with the working group to discuss details and assign responsibilities

Develop a list of criteria for the contest (sample available in Resources section)

Solicit local businesses for prizes

Develop a system for tracking and numbering the posters submitted

Enlist the support of the Art Department of your school inquire about the ability for the contestto fit into current curriculum

Reserve a location for the poster contest display (request and confirm with schooladministration)

Develop a score sheet for judges Choose potential judges, request their participation and confirm their availability for the date of

the poster contest

Invite students, staff and community members to view the posters, determine if your committeewould like to make this a large school wide event and consider inviting local media

Recognize prize donors with thank you letters and mention at the event

Resources

Sample Poster Criteria: between 9x12 and 22x28; incorporate creative and original artwork;

messages must be clear and positive about mental illness and the negative impact of stigma;posters should not be laminated or mounted on mat board.

All entries are anonymous so students may not include any identifiers on their work. Poster contestentry numbers will be recorded on the back. Students may use a variety of media, such aswatercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc.


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ROOM FOR RELAXATION

Activity: Hold a weekly/monthly relaxation room where staff and students can learnrelaxation techniques.

Purpose: To assist students and teachers with learning new techniques for stressmanagement and relaxation. Sessions could include yoga, pilates, guided imagery,progressive muscle relaxation, music, etc.


Resources: Instructors for each group, could be a teacher or someone from the community;meeting space in the school

Costs: Water for group participants


Note: this is a great event to hold during the weeks leading up to exam time.

Checklist of Steps


Create a schedule for the relaxation room.

Contact and invite the required guest speakers to facilitate sessions.

Create a promotion plan and implement it.

Resources

Start with your school staff, someone may be a yoga instructor etc.

Local community agencies such as health and employment may have workshops on stressmanagement


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WALL OF FAME

Activity: Decorate a school hallway with photos and bios of celebrities who haveexperienced mental illness. Ensure that posters also show where youth can go forhelp. Music can be played in the hallways, of famous musicians who have livedwith mental illness.

Purpose: To show that mental illness can affect anyone.


Resources: Search the internet to get list of celebrities who have been affected by mentalillness. Print off stories/pictures. Check with teachers to see if any have includedmental health in the curriculum, they may want to assist with this project. CDs.

Costs: None.

Marketing: Announcements; Posters; an excellent event for Oscar season highlight onecelebrity per day, leading up to Oscar night.

Checklist of Steps


Possibly include this theme with your brain fair dayi.e. have the wall of fame outside and insidethe room where the brain fair is taking place

Divide your working group so that members can look at the famous people with mental illness inthe following areas: television and film, music, literature, politics, etc

Research each individual and include on the wall of fame: name, title, name of illness, symptomsof the illness, how the person overcame the illness, Remember, we are looking at reversing thecycle of stigma associated with mental illness.

Resources

The internet, school library, local library, community mental health agencies


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MOVIE MOMENTS

Activity: How about having a series or single movie showing. It could be movies talkingabout mental illness, highlighting characters with mental illness or televisionprograms dealing with the issue. A great time to get together, whether afterschool, at lunch or whenever the time permits. There are lots of TV shows thathave dealt with mental illness, suicide etc. Prescreen the movies and make surethat they deal with mental illness in a positive and realistic way.

Purpose: To find an informal way to introduce the issues surrounding mental illness. Greatdiscussions can occur about the way mental illness has been portrayed in themovie.


Resources: Movies, laptop and projector or DVD player and TV, room

Costs: Popcorn! DVD rental.


Checklist of Steps

Schedule a meeting with the working group to discuss details and assign responsibilities.

Select the movies or television shows for viewing as well as the location.

Create a schedule and advertise within the school through posters and announcements.

Invite local mental health support agencies to come to the viewing and assist with the post moviediscussions.

Resources

National Film Board, school board library, video store


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TEACHER INFO KITS

Activity: Assemble and distribute information kits for teachers.

Purpose: These information kits will inform teachers about the issues surrounding youth andmental health. Teachers may then be able to assist students to identify warning

signs/symptoms, direct them to get help and better understand the role they play increating a supportive environment.

Ensure the kit includes information about the TAMI project as teachers may want toinclude the program in their course work, or arrange a session for the staff.

Target: Teachers, guidance counselors, administrative staff.

Resources: Resource materials gathered from various community agencies about the servicesprovide. Info sheets about youth, mental health, and mental illness (e.g. signs andsymptoms of depression, anxiety, etc.)

Costs: There may be a nominal charge for some resource materials. Make sure youcheck to see if you can photocopy resources. The internet has a lot of free,downloadable information.

Marketing: Deliver packages directly to teachers, or put in their mail boxes.

Note: Be sure to include information about the 5-day In Class program available through the YorkRegion T.A.M.I. Coaltion.

Checklist of Steps


Seek the support of your school administration for this project.

Determine the number of teachers who will receive info packages.

Contact local youth serving agencies and ask them for information pamphlets.

Create cover letter outlining why you are sending the package and created useful info sheetsfrom information gathered.

Assemble and distribute packages as per the plan.

Resources

Local mental health agencies including the Canadian Mental Health Association.


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LUNCH N LEARN

Activity: Provide a series of lunch hour workshops by youth serving agencies on topicsrelevant to youth and mental health.

Purpose: To promote discussions, learning and to give agencies the opportunity to makeconnections with youth in schools.

Target: Students.

Resources: A/V equipment, room, community agencies

Costs: Presentations will likely by at no cost.

Marketing: Announcements, posters, flyers.

Checklist of Steps


Seek the support of school administration with this project.

Determine what topics of interest you would like to have workshops on. Think about what wouldsupport the needs of the student body.

Select a series of tentative times and dates for the workshops.

Invite local agencies to present on the selected topics during the selected times.

Post invitations and posters throughout the school.

Ensure that the organizations are thanked for their participation.

Resources

Local mental health agencies

Student Action Guide

Documents