From sudden school shutdowns to the pressures of social media, young people are dealing with a lot these days. As conversations about mental health become more common, there’s a growing sense that many of our personal struggles might not just be all in our heads. What’s mental health? What impacts our mental health? How can young people find support? How can we support others?
In the winter of 2020-2021, CUP collaborated with Teaching Artist Stephen Kwok and public high school students from Life Sciences Secondary School to investigate this issue. Students created art therapy activities, surveyed community members, and interviewed key stakeholders working on the issue.
The team gathered what they learned and created It’s Not Just in Our Heads, a booklet that teaches others about mental health, how it impacts our daily lives, and how to support others that might be struggling with their mental health.
Students premiered their final project virtually through a public debut presentation, where they presented their booklet and shared their creative process.
Get your own booklet here!
See more photos of students in action here!
Watch a video of the students creative process below!