Online mental wellness class the first of its kind in Saskatchewan

Students heading back to school this season will have the opportunity to take a new online class to better their mental health.

The Sun West Distance Learning Centre in Kenaston is ready to launch its Mental Wellness 30 course, which looks to not only teach students about mental illnesses but how to better cope with challenges faced in life and their own mental health.

Elaina Guilmette, the course’s teacher and developer, said she has noticed a need for a mental health class across the province.

“There’s just an increasing rise of suicide and anxiety and depression and kids leaving schools because they’re bullied, or kids leaving schools because they don’t know how to handle their issues,” she said.

The course is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan and was launched following a pilot project of 12 students. Content was developed by a number of division counsellors, psychologists and people who have lived with mental illness.

“We start out by letting kids understand what’s going on in their life,” said Guilmette, who hopes the class can work to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

“(We find out) what do they know (and) what do they want to know, and then from there I can kind of understand where they are … understanding your thinking patterns, and understanding how your thoughts affect your behaviours.”

The course allows students to watch a number of videos and reflect on them using an online forum. Guilmette added there’s a lot of email collaboration through which peer supporters, instructors, and even those featured in the videos can communicate with students to offer advice.

Other topics that Guilmette teaches in the course are cognitive behavioural therapy, coping mechanisms for stress, and using the ‘wellness wheel’ to teach the importance of a well-balanced, healthy life.

A project which the class will have to work on involves a social media ’21-day app challenge’ that looks to use an app to build positive habits, and to self-regulate social media usage to teach the impacts of social media on mental health.

Although considered a 30 level (Grade 12) credit, anyone between the ages of 15 and 22 can take it.

Because the class is online, Guilmette said the course can help students better than if they were in a classroom environment.

“When you’re online, nobody knows that you’re seeking help,” said Guilmette. “(And) a lot of kids can’t afford to go to a counsellor, so by having that free online counsellor, we think we can help with that.”

Around 35 students have registered for the course so far. Students can sign up either through their schools or privately through the Distance Learning Centre.

In the future, Guilmette hopes to add a class for younger, middle school students, and a course for parents to better help their children.