“Your illness does not define you. Your strength and courage does.”
This was one of the many messages penned on the mural wall of the DARE district, by students and staff on Jan. 30, as a way to raise awareness for the Bell Let Talk Day.
As part of the college’s mental health awareness week, students and staff were invited to the DARE District as well as the Student Commons, where they were given the opportunity to share at least 50 messages of support and encouragement.
Students of the support services program hosted the event, and they greeted everyone who walked by the table covered in poster boards, blue “Bell Let’s Talk” hats and pins.
Stephen Koon, who is a second-year in the personal support program, said that a campaign such as this one is great to be a part of and was one that encouraged him to share his message.
“I’m a personal support worker,” he said. “So, being a part of something like this is important.”
Pham Minh Anh Nguyen, a second-year business administration student, said the campaign is important in terms of how it raises awareness in and around the college.
Once students and staff had written down their messages, they were displayed on a wall where students, who were passing by, could take a moment to read them.
Students were also encouraged to pose with their message board, where they could then share it on social media with the hashtag Bell Let’s Talk.
The campaign raised over $7 million for mental health programs within Canada as well as reaching a national goal of over $100 million.