The girl guides are taking mental health seriously.
Called the Mighty Minds Challenge, Girl Guides of Canada is focusing on ending the stigma surrounding mental heath and spreading awareness.
“It’s going to be an ongoing program. We do things like yoga and mindfulness. This is something that’s going on now for a very long time as part of a national challenge that you can do as part of Girl Guides. It’s quite a big program,” said Girl Guide leader Tammy Cranston.
The challenge was launched nationally on Jan. 21. In Lake Country at the cenotaph, across from George Elliot Secondary, various groups gathered to discuss the importance of mental heath.
It’s to help young girls understand mental heath, to recognize some of the feelings associated with mental health and to be able to deal with issues. It’s how to look after ourselves and end the stigma, said Cranston.
The challenge runs from Sparks to Rangers, kindergarteners to young adults. At the launch, participating members lit candles to show how small acts carry a ripple effect, she said.
Cranson estimated around 15 girls attended the launch.
Amanda Swoboda from Canadian Mental Heath and Megan Ross with the Lake Country Health Planning Society gave speeches and told the crowd about the ways to access mental heath resources.
Guiders from across the province attended the Shine a Light - Mighty Minds launch and candles were lit from unit guider Susan Thesen.
“We are also looking to support youth, and mental heath initiatives (are things) we identified as sort of a big need in Lake Country for youth,” said Ross, adding in Lake Country there is a lack of resources for mental health.
“Based on the comments from the event, we got great feedback. People were quite happy… to get that information out there,” said Cranson.
For more information about Girl Guides and Mighty Minds, visit the Girl Guides' website.