The Evolution of the Project

Once the current event was chosen, the work began.  The students decided they wanted to produce something to help eliminate the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental illness and mental health.  They were going to create a video and share it with the world.  The video would focus on the issues other young people their age live with and face on a daily basis.  Their research was guided by this.  To go along with the research they were doing, we told our school's FSLW (Family-School Liaison Worker).  We knew she would be a great resource.  She quickly became a partner of the project.

Word of what we were doing slowly started to get out.  I, of course, bragged a bit about it.  People seemed interested.  Some of the students told their parents.  They were interested.  It would be our new partner, however, who would help spread the word and connect us with Alberta Health Services.

We would quickly gain a new partner!  The Mental Health Liaison from a local clinic was interested in what we were doing and wanted to help out.  She has been a source of knowledge and support through her visits to the school and communication through email and phone calls.  The project quickly became more than a video.  She challenged the class to share what they were doing with the rest of the junior high.  Quickly, the class decided they would share the video with the whole school at an assembly during Mental Health Awareness week.  They would create a display for a bulletin board by the junior high classes and they would lead some activities about mental health and mental health awareness to be shared with the junior high class.  What once was a current events assignment quickly turned into what would be a whole afternoon event; completely led by those grade nine students.  Word of the project did not stop there, however.  Our new partner continued to pass it on.

We were contacted by the coordinator of an Alberta Health Services newsletter that shares stories that take place within schools in the central region of our province.  She was interested in the story and wanted to help share what was happening.  She offered to do a story and share the video link through the newsletter.    Again, not long after speaking with her, she helped to spread the word as well.  We were contacted by the Communications Adviser.

After speaking with the Communications Adviser, we were excited.  She wanted to do a story that would be in a publication that goes out to all Alberta Health Services facilities in the central zone of the province, as well as doctor's offices, grocery stores and other public places.  She interviews myself and a couple of the students.  For a small class in a small school, this was great! The more people that heard about it, the better! If it could help even one person, this project would be a success.