Marching for mental health
Sir John Franklin students walk to end stigmatization
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Friday, March 17, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A group of nearly 30 Sir John Franklin High School students marched through Yellowknife with neon signs sharing messages about mental health yesterday morning.
The event, organized by student group Magnanimous Advocates Generating Mental Health Awareness - or MAGMA - was meant to reduce the stigma around mental illness and get people talking about their health.
"It's a student group and they're really passionate about supporting people with mental health issues, helping to end the stigma around mental illness and just to create a positive, supportive environment for our students," said Denise Hurley, the group's supervisor and an English teacher at Sir John Franklin High School.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, between 10 to 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness.
More female youth than male between the ages of 12 and 19 have experienced a major episode of depression, the association says, while suicide is the leading cause of death for
15- to 24-year-olds in Canada.
"As a teacher, that's something that's really close to my heart," Hurley said.
Hurley said she is passionate about making sure students can get help if they need it.
Grade 10 student Cindy Ngo is a member of MAGMA. She takes part in the group to support a friend who has struggled with their mental health.
"That's one of the reasons why I'm here," she said of Thursday's march. "It's just really important to me."
She said she believes mental health is just as important as physical health, as everything we do revolves around how we feel.
And at school, Ngo said there is still a need to decrease the stigma around mental health, as well as learn to use proper terminology.
She explained that she often hears people use the term "depression" out of context, which can take away from those truly experiencing mental illness.
After making their way down 49 Street, the students marched to city hall to meet with Mayor Mark Heyck.
"I'm glad you were able to brave the cold and windy day," Heyck said as he welcomed the group into council chambers for a photo.
He extended his congratulations to the students for trying to get the word out about what he called an important topic. Then, the students headed back to school.
"We have tea and hot chocolate and bannock and cookies to hand out," Hurley said. "And I'm going to say a very short speech about mental health and why it's important, and thank everyone for participating."
This is the first year MAGMA has organized a mental health march but Hurley hopes it's not the last.
"We're already planning for bigger and better things for next year," she said. "The students want to get municipal enforcement involved, block off the street and do a full-on march."
