Gleneagle secondary leadership students are organizing an event to bring awareness to mental health.
Talk To Me 4.0 will be held on Friday April 28 at 6 p.m. in the school’s multi-purpose room.
The latest version of this event has the theme of empowerment, revolving around a number of topics such as leadership, anxiety, self-confidence and self-esteem, and conflict in relationships.
“People with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, they tend to be victimized by their surroundings and what’s happened to them,” said Annie Huang, a Grade 12 leadership student. “We want them to take from the event how to be the leader within themselves, how to build up the self-confidence and self-esteem needed.”
Some of the teens taking a leadership role in the event have a connection to the topic; for Lisa Wu, a neighbour committed suicide because of depression.
“Recently, I discovered my neighbour — she’s also a high-school student — she killed herself because of depression,” Wu said. “She didn’t let anybody know. I think through this event, we can try to let [people] know that [others] do think about them, and that they can reach out for help that they need.”
The Coquitlam school will host a lineup of speakers, such as registered clinical counsellor Michelle Mann; Fran Banting, the CEO of Dreampath Consulting; and Claire Lundin, who will be speaking about her personal struggle with anxiety.
“What empowerment stands for is a really important topic and concept that is often ignored in media and when it’s taught in schools,” said student Akhila Appadurai. “Events like these build personal connections between speakers and the audience, and some people can really be changed by listening to the speakers we have lined up.”
Adam Hayes, the Coquitlam school’s leadership teacher, said he’s proud of his students and their efforts in taking on these initiatives.
“It’s unbelievable, and I always say, the event won’t run unless the students want it to,” Hayes told The Tri-City News. “I didn’t have to force anybody or anything, it’s all about choice. By challenge, by choice.”
Hayes said that in the event’s short history, the impacts have been felt throughout the different communities in the province, receiving feedback about how Talk To Me has sparked dialogue and action about mental health and mood disorders.
“[Parents have] said Talk To Me has made a difference in their lives and the lives of their daughters and sons, and that to me is why we do it,” he said. “We do it because it’s going to change how they feel about themselves, it’s going to offer them a sense that ‘Hey, we’re not alone,’ and it’s allowing them to also learn about the agencies and support networks that are available to them.”
Tickets for Talk To Me 4.0 are on sale — $5 for students, $10 for adults — and can be purchased online at sd43.schoolcashonline.com. All proceeds go to Mood Disorders Association of BC.
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