Mental Health Week 2022

This week, LCS acknowledged the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week through a variety of activities in Chapel, Advisor meetings, House meetings, and during Lunch / Grove Time. 

Ms. Runza introduced the week in our Chapel program on Monday and highlighted the theme of this year’s MHW: Empathy. Ms. Runza defined empathy using CMHA’s definition: “Empathy is the ability to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like to be them.” Ms. Runza encouraged students to be kind to one another and themselves and prioritize their mental wellbeing by participating in the scheduled events for the week. 

Every day this week, the Dining Hall was abuzz with music from student-created house playlists. On Tuesday, Advisors talked about mental health management and shared a mindfulness video with students. On Wednesday, Ms. Avery led a mindfulness meditation and yoga session. On Thursday, students volunteered to corral the campus dogs in the Dining Hall courtyard to offer their peers and LCS faculty and staff the chance to de-stress through the help of our canine pals. On Friday, the theme of House meetings was empathy and compassion, which offered another opportunity for everyone to connect and check in on their wellbeing. 

Throughout the week, students also had the option to destress in the library with crosswords and puzzles, set up by Ms. Maher. Ms. Maher also hand-selected books that address mental wellness for students to read. 

The mental health and wellbeing of our students is always a priority; recognition weeks like this one offer a helpful reminder to continue learning new strategies to help yourself and others.