A group of Spectrum Community School students is seeking to make the high school Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 first B次元官网网址渟tigma-free zone.B次元官网网址�
The newly formed Spectrum Philanthropy Club, a group of mostly Grade 12 students, invited Robyn Thomas from the to help kick off the initiative last Wednesday morning.
Thomas addressed some 300 Spectrum students in the drama theatre about her own story of mental health, overcoming PTSD, and what can be done to break down certain stigmas including mental health, along with all negative stereotypes, she said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l work with the school for the year to help it work towards being a stigma-free zone,B次元官网网址� Thomas said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a process and at the end weB次元官网网址檒l designate the school a stigma-free zone.B次元官网网址�
Thomas then joined the club in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 front foyer during lunch, while the club invited students and staff to sign their giant stigma-free pledge banner. The movement coincides with Spectrum staffB次元官网网址檚 own initiative, Spec-Respect.
B次元官网网址淲e formed this group out of our social justice class that was supposed to happen but didnB次元官网网址檛 have enough people,B次元官网网址� said club member Ethan Badr, in Grade 12. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l hold an event every month, I think itB次元官网网址檚 really important.B次元官网网址�
The school population is already a relatively positive group with low rates of homophobia, racism or judgment regarding mental health, Badr said. But the goal is to make being stigma free a part of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 ongoing culture. One way theyB次元官网网址檒l do that is by holding a presentation for all Grade 9s (Spectrum is Grade 9 to 12) at the beginning of each school year, starting in 2018.
For this year, the club has launched a season-long calendar which will identify different stigmas each month.
For example, in December the group will build awareness around religion as the month holds significant meaning in Christianity, Judaism and other beliefs, said Grade 12 Jalen Smith. January will focus on mental health, which picks up on the momentum from BellB次元官网网址檚 LetB次元官网网址檚 Talk Day.
The banner will come out again and will soon be posted in the school, Badr added.
