Mental health awareness bench unveiled at Johnson Collegiate

High school students looking for mental health support have one more spot to find it at F.W. Johnson Collegiate.

An awareness bench donated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) was unveiled on Thursday, funded by money raised at the association’s Punchline Comedy Night. It’s the first bench of its kind to be donated to a Regina high school.

Shannon Patton, the CMHA’s director of community engagement, explained the goal is to provide a visual cue to students to remind them to take care of their mental health.

“They’re going to be thinking, ‘I need to stop and take a breath,’ maybe relax, maybe reflect and really take care of themselves,” said Patton.

Behind the bench is a bulletin board with mental health resource information, including the kids help line, mobile crisis line and suicide line.

While Johnson has other mental health supports in place like nursing students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and guidance counsellors, the awareness bench is a spot where students can feel comfortable talking to their peers.

English teacher Mary Kodas admitted she is a little worried that some kids may be too shy to sit on the bench but hopes that will change.

“We’re trying to get rid of that stigma and say, ‘It’s OK and you can hang out on the bench if you want,’ ” she said.

“It’s not to ostracize anyone or to make them feel funny about sitting on the bench but maybe it’s just somebody saying, ‘Hey, how’s your day going?’ ”

Next school year, Johnson will also offer a new mental health and addictions elective course for Grade 10 students, talking about coping strategies and being trained in first aid.

The CMHA plans to unveil at least one more awareness bench in the next few months but wasn’t ready to announce where.