Chances are you've seen the chalk messages written around town. They were written by students to mark the Canadian Mental Health Association's Mental Health Week in Olds from May 2-8.
Chances are you've seen the chalk messages written around town.
They were written by students to mark the Canadian Mental Health Association's Mental Health Week in Olds from May 2-8.
From May 2-8, they have been participating in the "Let's Chalk About It" campaign started by the Youth Empowerment and Support! (YES) Program.
Raelynn Notley is a mental health program leader for the YES! Program and said the goal was to create community awareness of mental wellness through the highly-visible writings.
Students of all ages were involved as well as Uptowne Olds and other businesses and clubs. Locations included sidewalks in the downtown area, near Deer Meadow and Olds Elementary schools, the arena and library.
Students wrote positive, affirming messages such as: "Be your own self," "You matter," and "You are loved."
Some encouraged people to do good to others: "It is so easy to be kind." Others, to keep an even work-life balance and not to neglect self-care.
"Kids have a good understanding of taking care of themselves," Notley said. "Empathy is our underlying message. We all struggle and need support."
She said it's her hope that adults will start talking about the issue more.
For a few Olds High School leadership students out on 50 Avenue Wednesday morning, the transition to high school was a source of anxiety. They worried about students losing touch with close friends once separated into different classes in a bigger school.
To them, mental wellness meant staying active, taking time to relax and avoiding negative thinking.
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