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Youth council to promote mental health

Members of the Lord Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee: Advisor Maria Mavridis, and students Janvi Ganatra, Genny Moncion, Clara De Munnich, Mykayla Brown, advisor Lauren Kruitbosch, Hillary Flemming, Bethany Poltl andTannin Dridger-Bradshaw.
Bethany Poltl
Members of the Lord Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee: Advisor Maria Mavridis, and students Janvi Ganatra, Genny Moncion, Clara De Munnich, Mykayla Brown, advisor Lauren Kruitbosch, Hillary Flemming, Bethany Poltl andTannin Dridger-Bradshaw.

We all recognize that caring for our mental health and wellness is extremely necessary.

Our recent world-wide situation, COVID-19, has brought on new challenges for many, due to physical distancing, isolation, disruption of routine, and cancellation of activities. On a whole different level is the fear and deep sadness, as loved ones
or people you know fall ill, and death is a reality as an outcome.

It must be stressed that people need to seek help
from professionals to guide and care for them, should they need it during this trying time.

The NOTL Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council has held its annual Grade 8 Mental Health and Wellness Conference the last two years at the community centre. The purpose of our conference is to provide Grade 8 students with strategies for moving into Grade 9, and to support their mental health and wellness. This year has been completely different for these Grade 8s. Due to safety and distancing regulations, we could not attend the conference in person, so the LMYAC discussed the possibility of offering information online.

In the next couple of weeks, the LMYAC will have a few short, two to four minute public service announcements regarding wellness for youth, to be shared through email and social media. 

The first PSA, Mental Health Matters, was created by the LMYAC. It offers a few common-sense tips for youth and introduces the information that the next PSAs will be coming. They are being created by Melissa Dunlop, RN with Niagara North Health; Hillary Flemming from Niagara Region Public Health; and Dr. Ron Clavier, neuroscientist. Each PSA video will address key wellness issues for youth and we feel all can learn from these informative sessions.

These PSA videos can be found on the Town of NOTL site, the LMYAC instagram and facebook accounts, and will be shared directly to the elementary schools in NOTL.

Follow the LMYAC instagram @lmyacnotl to view the mental health and wellness videos and for more updates and information for NOTL youth.

Bethany Poltl is the chair of the Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council