Local high school students are being encouraged to take part in Bell Let’s Talk Day. mental-health

PACE Program Coordinator Ken O’Neil says this initiative aims to end the stigma around mental health.

“The entire school will be able to take five or ten minutes, and they’ll be able tweet, text, call, watch videos thorugh the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook page,” O’Neil explains. “If they tweet or anything that has to with #BellLetsTalk, five cents will be donated to the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund.”

A forum is also being held in partnership with the Walpole island Suicide awareness Committee and the WDSS Mental Wellness Student Committee on raising awareness and creating a healthier school community.

O’Neil says “we’re going to have a small discussion… about mental health within our own community, how do we as community members end the stigma of mental health, how can we promote mental health awareness in our school and our community, and maybe some strategies along with that.”