Why mental health?

Hi, my name is Delaney and I'm a grade 12 student at Mount Boucherie! I designed the Walk for Mental Health because I can attest to the effects mental health has on youth in this day and age. One misconception about mental health is that it doesn't affect the majority of people, as it's often mistaken for mental illness. Mental health recognition enables you to care for yourself and your mind and is no different than taking care of your physical health. When I was younger, I wished there had been a class similar to Physical Health Education that focused on the importance of mental well-being. 

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Growing up, I have witnessed how mental health affects youth. Mental health is hard to navigate, especially when you feel as though no one can understand what you are going through. Experiences with friends, among all else, have led me to believe that youth lack recognition of accessible mental health resources. Following the pandemic, it became imperative to provide the students of MBSS and the greater community with knowledge on how to access support. High schools specifically, those with large populations, can struggle to serve and support all students in need, so highlighting outside resources became incredibly important to me.

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Why Foundry Kelowna?

I heard about Foundry Kelowna when I began researching mental health and resources in my area. From the beginning, I have been in awe of Foundry and what they offer for programs and support. They are an incredible resource that not only has such promising accessibility but also great dedication to their community. The programs and support they offer are exactly what the youth in the community need, and through the Walk for Mental Health, we have helped to broaden the accessibility to serve the residents of West Kelowna too.