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Hats On! For Mental Health marked in Medicine Hat

May 1, 2019 | 3:59 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — At most schools, wearing a hat is not allowed as part of their dress code.

However, schools across Alberta relaxed their dress code for one day for a good cause.

Wednesday was marked as Hats On! For Mental Health Day across Alberta, with schools in Medicine Hat taking part to raise awareness of positive mental health

“I think awareness is really the key right there,” said Mike Weisgerber, principal at St. Mary’s School in Medicine Hat. “Just being aware of the different mental health struggles that everyone has, and the different levels of anxiety and those types of things our students go through. When we’re aware, we can work with that and try to help students with those issues.”

At St. Mary’s School, students were allowed to wear a hat if they donated $1 to charity. According to Weisgerber, the money from the day will be donated to the Champions Centre.

Weisgerber, who has been involved in education for 29 years, says the focus of mental health has increased exponentially in the classroom.

“I think it’s always been there, but its more of an awareness thing,” he said. “I also think with the increase of social media, and the types of tools that students have at their disposal, the mental health issues have increased.”

Weisgerber adds they encourage students to reach out, seek help and be “open and honest” about struggles they have.

“We have a teacher-counsellor available to the students for school-related issues,” he said. “Communities Coming Together works with our students in more of a proactive role in working with classes and trying to establish positive mental health in the classes.

“We have what we call The Hub here at St. Mary’s, which is a support for students who struggle with mental health, anxiety, those types of things, that sometimes just need a mental health break during the day or some mental health support, someone to talk to.”

The school also hosts Wellness Wednesdays, which makes students aware of different tools they have to help solve the issues.

Weisgerber adds there are also mental health resources available for staff members.