Torch - Spring 2018

MENTAL Wellness Jack.org and other movements for mental health

From left: Emily Zhao, Julianna Botros, Taylor Mackenzie and Hannah Lee discuss launching Jack.org in the Junior School.

J ack.org has found a place at Havergal! Founded in 2010 by Eric Windeler and Sandra Hanington in response to the loss of their son Jack, this mental health awareness organization now boasts over 150 chapters across Canada. At Havergal, the Jack.org chapter founded last year is now helmed by Grade 12 student Taylor Mackenzie and Grade 11 student Julianna Botros, who are both passionate about the issue. “People have this big value for physical health but don’t treat mental health or mental illness the same way. So, it’s finding an equilibrium,” says Botros, who recently earned a mental health certification and aspires to volunteer with Kids Help Phone. “The whole message behind Jack.org is getting young leaders to bring the message to other young people,” says Mackenzie.

how exhausting it is to feel that you have no one to turn to,” she says. Botros says she also started a discussion informally with her sister and classmates in the Junior School. “Especially to a kid, it’s more important that they recognize on their own what they’re feeling. To actually be able to express that to an adult,” she says. MacKenzie agrees. “A lot of times, mental health is treated like it’s a mature topic or only older people can handle it. But I’ve known several people even in the Junior School and especially Middle School that struggle with their mental health.” Yet another project for the group is posting mental health-related questions on a glass expression wall and asking students to respond. Again, it’s the power of dialogue about these issues. “I think the best way to learn is for people to hear it from their own peers,” says Botros.

This year, Havergal’s Jack.org chapter includes 30 members, who meet weekly both for event planning and discussions. They also organized a summit with 15 area schools and participated in the organization’s annual fundraising ride. Havergal’s chapter also organizes several events at the school. This year, they held a day of silence to honour those who feel they have no one to talk to about their mental illness. Over 30 students (including Botros and Mackenzie) participated in the event, which involved being silent the whole day, communicating only by white board. MacKenzie says the emotional toll was surprising. “I found it difficult. I’m generally a pretty talkative person, so I constantly felt myself wanting to say something and thinking, ‘Oh wait, I can’t.’ By the end of the day, I was so tired it made me realize

TABLE OF CONTENTS | SPRING 2018 • TORCH 23