Education and Mental Health Today: A Conversation With Olivia Lau

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), this week (May 4th - 10th, 2020) is Mental Health Week! To recognize the importance of mental health, Study Station decided to team up with one of the Halton District School Board Student Trustees, Olivia Lau, to discuss our current education system and the importance of mental health for students. Keep reading for the full interview, featuring information on the Ontario Student Trustee’ Association, how to maintain a healthy mindset, and more!

INTERVIEW CONVERSATION BELOW:

Start with a brief introduction about yourself (2-3 sentences) and your role within Halton as a Student Trustee.

OL: Hi, I’m Olivia! I’m going into Grade 12 at White Oaks, and I was elected as the HDSB Student Trustee for the 2019-2020 school year. As a Student Trustee, I sit on the Board of Trustees for the HDSB and represent 65,000+ students across Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills, and I co-chair the Student Senate (www.hdsbstudentsenate.com). In addition to that, I also sit on the HDSB Period Poverty Committee, as well as the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA-AECO)’s Student Wellbeing working group. In my free time, I’m a HOSA Executive at WOSS, a Health Partners International Volunteer, and outside of obligations, you can find me doing yoga, procrastinating my Spanish homework, or listening to some obscure musical theatre song.

How has the Student Trustee's Association helped students with mental health so far? Are there current plans for more involvement or implementation?

OL: At the moment, OSTA-AECO is the largest student stakeholder group in Ontario, representing 2 million students across 70+ school boards. In terms of mental health advocacy, OSTA-AECO is in close communication with the Ministry of Education and OPSBA (the adult trustee’s association), which has given us the opportunity to voice our concerns at the policy and governance level. The document entitled, “A Turning Point in Education: A Student Platform” (https://www.osta-aeco.org/assets/OSTA-AECO-Student-Platform.pdf) was released in 2018, outlining over 16 recommendations to policy-makers (4 of which are related to mental health), which has since been widely implemented and considered across board tables in Ontario. Currently, Student Trustees across Ontario continue to advocate for mental health services; although this widely depends on the funding (varies between school boards), from my experience, I have seen a massive shift in the culture of mental health and governance. As a result of the student-led wave of mental health advocacy, many school boards have created Mental Health Strategy and Steering Committees, where board-specific mental health services are evaluated. For more information on the HDSB’s Mental Health Strategy and Steering Committees (we have a few Student Senators who advocate on that level as well), you can check out: Mental Health on the HDSB website.

Within your role as Student Trustee, what have you observed about students and mental health?

OL: Although I would love to speak to all 65,000+ students across the HDSB, that simply has not been possible; so, the extent of my observations only extend to my own personal life as a student, as well as the more ‘policy-centric’ side of mental health services at the HDSB. However, I can definitely say that I have noticed a shift in how students, teachers, trustees, and legislators view mental health. Mental health is no longer a topic that many people have not heard of - instead, it’s accepted to be an important part of a student’s life, which has been reflected in some of the new HDSB mental health awareness initiatives with staff. That being said, I still believe that there is a stigma surrounding the asking-for-help aspect when it comes to student mental health. Many students view guidance counsellors, therapists, or seeking help from their loved ones as non-helpful or embarrassing -- this is not the case! To that point, I’ve seen a disconnect between guidance counsellors and students especially… Even though guidance counsellors should be well-trained to help students will mental health struggles, many students view them as simply the person who helps with course changes. At this moment in time, that is not the fault of the student nor the guidance counsellor - it is largely in part of the ratio of guidance counsellors to students and the amount of funding each board allocates to mental health initiatives (which depends on the Ministry of Education).

Life as a student can be stressful, and this can often take a toll on one's mental health. What advice do you have for other students to maintain a healthy mindset and a positive mental health? Feel free to draw on your own personal experiences.

OL: This is such a great question… and I’m still trying to find the answer myself! At this point in my high school career, I’ve experienced my fair share of mental health obstacles. Quick disclaimer: a healthy mindset and/or valuable mental health practices differ from person to person, so I would encourage students to try out new things and see what works for them. For me, I try to be proactive and make sure that I’m not overworking myself/getting trapped in situations that spike my anxiety or result in a ‘slump’. For one thing: SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP. Take care of your body and your mind by consistently getting 7-8 hours of sleep if possible. As an IB student, I’ve been trapped in the vicious cycle of 4-5 hours of sleep each night -- which ultimately resulted in overexertion and a breakdown! Taking a step back, prioritizing yourself, and realizing that ‘it’s not the end of the world’, is so important.

On another tangible note: plan your days and do activities that actually make you feel ‘fulfilled’...! I’ve found that scrolling aimlessly on TikTok and Instagram for 2 hours at a time is fun and all, but at the end of it, I really don’t feel as great as if I were to spend that time to go for a run on my treadmill, read a book, or FaceTime one of my friends. Finding time to explore passions and worthwhile activities outside of school + work + obligations definitely helps a lot more than you’d think.

As someone who also tends to share with others, I would also say: don’t be afraid to reach out for professional help. There are some great therapy options for youth...speaking from experience: therapy is quite helpful! I’m quite close to my guidance counsellors and teachers as well, and I’ve found that it is SO REWARDING to speak to someone who can help you on the front-line… They are there to help! On a more “basic” note: yoga, meditation, and reading (nothing too heavy, just light reads), tend to work for me as well. Don’t knock it until you try it!

In the past, there has been a stigma around speaking up about and spreading awareness about mental health. What should students do to reduce this, and how can they spread awareness?

OL: This is definitely true. I think the first step towards ending the stigma is to consciously reflect on what you are projecting to other people around you. For example, telling someone that they should “man up” or “bottle it up” or “stop being overdramatic” perpetuates the idea that one’s mental health is their problem. If someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, make it extremely clear that they are NOT alone, and there are resources to help - after all, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders do not make someone weak or unworthy of help. In terms of spreading awareness, that comes with time and individual actions towards changing the culture that we’re seeing today. If your school does not have a mental health club/committee, speak to your guidance counsellor and perhaps take on a leadership role - that would be a tangible step towards ending the stigma at a student-to-student level.

In one of your past announcements stating that you were not running for re-election, you included the quote "choosing happiness over expectation". What does this mean to you? How did you come to this decision?

OL: Yes, that is currently in my bio on my professional account (@olivialauhdsb on Instagram). As I said in one of the earliest questions, I’ve definitely been through a lot this year! As a perfectionist, IB student, and as an HDSB Student Trustee, I’ve been under a ton of pressure to perform above and beyond the line of duty. From the beginning, everyone at the Board expected me to run for Student Trustee for a second term (2019-2020 - which was this year, and then again for the 2020-2021 year, when I would be in Grade 12). Although I love my job and student advocacy, I’ve realized that the best decision for me (and especially for my mental health) is to pass the baton to two new wonderful Student Trustees, Vandiytha and Evan, who I’m sure will do an amazing job next year. The ‘happiness over expectation’ part refers to my shift in mindset and choosing what’s best for me… A very significant lesson that I’ve learned: prioritizing yourself and your happiness is paramount to any position/job/grade/opinion - do what’s best for you! (And don’t be afraid to take that leap. There are so many people to support you..!). For me, that is passing the torch and focusing on school and other opportunities.

What key message would you like to share with the student community?

“​Advocate fearlessly, empathize deeply and do not be afraid to push boundaries. When situations appear to be hopeless - ask for help, listen, and build resiliency... ​that​ is courage.​” ​- Olivia Lau

OL: This quote embodies all of the wisdom that I can offer students, especially those who are insecure or anxious about succeeding in the future (and those who are afraid to advocate for THEMSELVES). I truly believe that empathy, open-mindedness, and empowerment are all connected to mental health, leadership, and self-improvement as a whole. Moreover, resiliency is a trait that all great leaders must practice - when situations get tough, a leader must learn how to pick themselves up, get help, and continue to look to the future. Overall, I have faced adversity in every single way possible throughout my term, and the quote above is a testament to my personal growth - a type of growth that hopefully inspires other students as well.

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Olivia Lau is one of the two current HDSB Student Trustees. For more information on her work and the Halton District School Board Student Senate, visit https://www.hdsbstudentsenate.com/. For more information on the Canadian Mental Health Association, visit https://mentalhealthweek.ca/.