Weyburn students heard a message of healing and perseverance on Wednesday when Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor Tyler Smith spoke on mental health at St. Michael School.
Superintendent of Student Services and Assessment with the Holy Family School Division, Terri Jordens, says they decided to invite Smith to Weyburn after he presented at last year's Oil and Gas show. She says they heard positive feedback from students who heard him at the event.
“We were very interested in connecting with him and bringing him here for our elementary students. Just given, really, his appeal to students that age. He's a sports guy, he's young, he talks the language, the same as our students. We thought bringing him would be really impactful and his message is a good one that kids need to hear.”
Students in grades six to nine attended the presentation with an event open to the community in the evening.
Jordens says that while the subject matter can be heavy Smith delivered it in a way that was understandable to the kids, speaking on making connections, being there for your loved ones, and reaching out when you need support.
“The way he could deliver the message, the kids understood it.”
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“Kids that age need to be able to talk about their mental health. They need to normalize talking about it. They need to normalize asking out and reaching for help. The earlier we can get these conversations going, the better. Work in mental health really starts at all ages in our schools.”
Alongside the school counsellors, Jordens was able to spend the day travelling with Smith as he held presentations in Estevan, Radville, Wilcox, and Weyburn. She says the response she was from students was fantastic.
“They were engaged the entire time. Sometimes it's harder to engage, especially middle school students, and pique their interest for that hour and a half. And all the kids were engaged. We had a question-and-answer session at the end and there was probably 50 hands up just wanting to ask Tyler questions. And he stayed after to interact with some kids personally and sign some autographs.”
The timing of his visit fit in well with May being Mental Health Month. Jordens explains that mental health is important at the division, and a topic their counsellors and behaviour consultants do a good job of bringing to light.