“Thrive” Week: Is it Enough?

Written by Ella Toffoletto
Edited by Jane Ling
Cover Image by Jaden Morrison

Thrive week was filled with activities and speakers to spread awareness about mental health within our community. Thrive Week worked to show our community the resources Havergal has to offer to those struggling with their mental health, as well as providing mindfulness activities to help increase awareness around the school. Our incredible student speakers bravely spoke about deeply personal struggles to make others feel less alone, to encourage people to ask for help, and to express their needs. With this in mind, I spent the week speaking with students from Grades 9 - 12 about how they feel about Thrive Week, what was done well, and what could be done better. We all understand the challenges that come with addressing mental health on such a large scale, and we appreciate the effort being put towards making our community feel like a safe space. During  a week dedicated to student mental health, input from the students can help our community learn how to create an environment that our students feel comfortable in.

There was general consensus from most students I spoke to that they enjoyed Thrive Week in many ways. Students reported that Thrive Week did a good job of encouraging open conversations about mental health and its importance. It brought attention to resources Havergal has that some younger students were not very familiar with, including safe spaces. Students said the additions around the school of tea, coffee, and hot chocolate serving stations made them feel that there was genuine sympathy for their situation. And although everyone adored the therapy dogs and wished we could have a gym full of puppies all year round, the most impactful and favourite aspect of Thrive Week to most were the speakers, especially the student speakers. Many stated it was helpful to hear from students who have the same concerns and are in similar situations as many other students in the community. Some even said that this inclusion showed improvement from last year's Thrive Week when it comes to including student voice, something that was appreciated by most of the interviewees. But, like everyone and everything else, Thrive Week, and how Havergal approaches mental health and student inclusion, is not perfect.

While the existence of Thrive Week as a whole displays an awareness and care for mental health at Havergal that is lacking in many other institutions, this does not mean that Havergal is exempt from critism. The first concern was with the timing of Thrive Week. Report cards are fast approaching, and the last week, as well as the ones coming up, are hectic and stressful for students, teachers, and administrators alike. Students found that they were unable to appreciate or find help during Thrive Week because it was one of the busiest times of the school year. Although it can be speculated that the increased stress of this time of year was a reason Thrive Week was placed here, students stated it made the event seem inconsequential, with one older student saying  “It’s like, ‘Oh, you have eight assignments? Have some flavored water’”. Students expressed how the week and its events felt performatory at times since they anticipated that after this week, the campaigning and focus on the importance of mental health would disappear, making the whole week seem, at times, like a “a box for the school to check”. However, students recognized why the event had to be more “surface level”, as mental health help is specific to each person and that Havergal can not be expected to solve everyone's unique issues. “The issue,” stated one Grade 12 student, “is the messaging that Thrive Week offers solutions to these problems.”

The biggest issue spoken about was Havergal’s lack of long term changes. Many students expressed how the care, support, and openness they’ve felt during Thrive Week does not align with Havergal’s actions pre or post Thrive Week. A few students expressed anxiety towards the change regarding assignment submission times, changing from times chosen by teachers that were usually 11:59 pm, to all assignments having to be due during relevant class periods. Students have repeatedly been confused about due dates and times, with teachers having just as few answers as the students do. One student said she went to ask administrators during events such as Chomp Chat, only to leave with no answers yet again. Other students expressed dislike towards this change and confusion as to who made this choice and where to get answers. Another student discussed attempting to see Guidance during Prayers, as they felt overwhelmed and stressed being around so many people in their current mental state. However, they were met with pushback, which left them feeling as though Havergal intends to put their own agenda before their students’ mental health. 

So, what should be done? Well, for one, students just want to be kept in the loop when it comes to changes that directly affect them, such as the assessment deadline change. Students understand administration may not be able to change it, as administrative choices are not meant to be made by the students and must consider many factors and perspectives; however, it is understandable to want to know why this choice was made. Others want more permanent spaces that will help students deal with their mental health and stress levels in school, for example one student brought up the idea of study time, breathing time, and areas of sanctuary that could simply be an area for students to sit quietly, breathe, and recollect themselves. As for Thrive Week, one student suggested Havergal to either “go big or go home”. If Havergal is going to dedicate a week to mental health awareness and support, they should actually change students’ everyday schedule during that week to show Havergal understands the rigorous environment that students are in. Suggestions ranged from Thrive Week including an extra sleep-in day, or a few more if possible, having no assignments, or having a comfy clothes dress down every day for that week. Students also encouraged the idea of extending Thrive Week, or having its messages pop up more often throughout the year. “Thrive month, or Thrive Thursdays!” one Grade 9 student suggested excitedly. While Havergal still has much that they can improve upon, it is clear to me that our students know Havergal wants to do better and feel comfortable offering criticism along with praise, which indicates that Havergal is headed in the right direction to improving the inclusion of student voice as well as the way in which Havergal approaches mental health.