Summary of Mental Health Awareness Program 

  In July, 2020 I created a proposal to implement a mental health awareness program into my school (Moss Vale high school).

  I shared my proposition to the principal / deputies and head teachers of every faculty at a staff meeting one afternoon after school.

  I left that meeting with the thumbs up. 

  2 months later my program began (mental health awareness week in Moss Vale high school).

  It was set to start on the 7th of September and finish on the 11th of September (Thursday being R U OK? Day). 

  On the first day of 'R U OK? Week' every student received an activity booklet full of activities and tasks to complete throughout the week.

  The program would teach students to better understand mental health issues and re-assure them that 'its not weak to speak and ask for help'.

  Other events during the week included the following... 

        - The 'notebook initiative'. Every student in the school received a notebook to write their thoughts down.

        - The 'conversation hall'. Yellow painted "conversation tables" were placed around the hall during recess and lunch breaks for students to

  get out of their comfort zone and talk to new people. I was there also initiating conversations and helping whomever.

        - 'Wear it Yellow Thursday'. Thursday being R U OK? Day every student was allowed to come to school in full yellow clothing to show

  support for the R U OK? Organisation. Students made a gold coin donation on the day which was all donated to the R U OK? Organisation. We 

  were able to raised over $1000.00.

        - 'Walk the Talk'. During lunch all students and staff were asked to walk around the oval and talk to people about how they are and to ask

  people how they are. We had a drone-shot of everyone on the oval, organised into the shape of a question mark which was used on the schools

  media for R U OK? Day.

        - 'conversation tables'. I painted 3 tables around the school yellow, these tables have the purpose of welcoming people to sit down and feel

  safe to open up to someone and share their feelings / emotions.

  Every Thursday of the week I volunteer my recess and lunch times sitting at the main 'conversation table' and offer help / advice to anyone who

  needs it.

  I now have regular people come to see me at these tables and talk to me.

  I have since made tens of worksheets and activities I offer people who come to the conversation tables.

  I continue to volunteer my recess and lunch every Thursday to the conversation tables and help whomever, these tables will leave behind a

  legacy in my school and hopefully continues to help people that need someone to talk to. 

  The initiation  I implemented as the mental health awareness week in Moss Vale high school was extremely successful.

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  - Jeremy Millward