About ThriveSMH
ThriveSMH (Thrive School Mental Health) is School Mental Health Ontario’s English-speaking student reference group. ThriveSMH members work with SMH-ON’s team of educators, mental health professionals, and partners to make sure that we understand the kinds of support students want and need at their schools and boards.
Meet the ThriveSMH team
Pronouns
she/her and they/them
Grade
12
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2019
Region
East
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I am involved in this group to help all students find a safe place to talk about mental their mental health.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is being an outside hitter in volleyball.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Northeast
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined this group to be a voice for the student’s mental health, and to be part of reducing the stigma of mental health to create a society where students don’t need to be ashamed about their own well-being.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill that makes me a better person is having empathy for others.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
8
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH because I am passionate about promoting positive mental health and well-being. I am also looking forward to collaborating with a diverse team of passionate students across Ontario.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is creative problem solving. I love addressing challenges in my community through creative initiatives.
Pronouns
he/him
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
West
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to better understand and support when it comes to mental health, in my school and my community.
What’s your super skill?
Upstander, not a bystander
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
West
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I am very passionate about mental health and am very interested in mental illnesses as well. I would love to de-stigmatize mental health and promote positivity in schools across Ontario.
What’s your super skill?
I consider myself to be an artist and I love all types of arts and technology. I even create the visuals for my school’s mental health page!
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2019
Region
Toronto
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH as a way to further my understanding of mental health and give back to my community.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is my creativity.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
12
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to help destigmatize mental illnesses, advocate the importance of maintaining your well-being, and to create practical mental health resources for fellow students.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is taking notes while watching a tv show/movie.
Pronouns
she/her and they/them
Grade
8
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH because mental health is a topic near to me and I want to do anything I can to help break the stigma!
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is spending all of my time reading really, really fast.
Pronouns
he/him
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
East
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH for the experience and for the ability to help others. As a child, my parents always told me to get out there and experience what the world has to offer. However, they also told me that it’s important to care for others. I’ve taken some of my first steps and took my chance with ThriveSMH, I find this is a opportunity I will forever be grateful for.
What’s your super skill?
I believe a major super skill of mine is my ability to motivate myself. Motivation is defined as “intrinsic motivation–skills such as curiosity, passion, purpose, autonomy, and mastery. It also refers to all the skills required to sustain motivation over the long haul: persistence, grit, resilience, the ability to delay gratification, the ability to overcome fear, and goal-setting.” I personally find that I can match myself to many of these characteristics.
Pronouns
he/him and they/them
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
West
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I wanted to play a part in bettering the Ontario mental health curriculum, while also working to destigmatize mental heath talk around the school.
What’s your super skill?
I am an amazing advocate for myself and others. I’m also a very likable person and find it easy to make others feel welcomed.
Pronouns
Any
Grade
12
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2021
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined Thrive to encourage equity in mental health and destigmatize treatment especially for young masculine people.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is sarcasm.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH in order to advocate for equal access to student mental health, meet people who are just as passionate about social justice as I am, to learn and share ideas to promote well-being!
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is that I am double jointed in my thumb, pinkie toe and can turn my tongue into the shape of a flower!
Pronouns
he/him
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
East
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To help improve student mental health across ontario.
What’s your super skill?
Public Speaking
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2021
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH because seeing the disparities in mental health among youth spiked a passion; having an opportunity to amplify student voices in a way that addresses the intersectionality of the issue, that provides me with a toolbox to help my community.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is questioning the entire existence and the world itself simultaneously, all while trying to eat lunch.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Toronto
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH because mental health is an important topic to me, I love editing and helping people each day.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is editing.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
11
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Northwest
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to enable open conversations about mental health and advocate for students mental health and well being. I believe that it’s important for students to participate in conversations that are about them and use their voice to talk about experiences and ideas.
What’s your super skill?
My ability to create welcoming environments and conversations.
Pronouns
they/them
Grade
12
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to make a difference in how mental health is seen in school boards as well as how it’s addressed in classrooms and homes.
What’s your super skill?
Caring, compassion
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
East
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to educate myself and others on mental health further. As someone who is interested in learning new things, especially about the human mind, I strongly believe that everyone should be informed about mental health so they can help themselves and others.
What’s your super skill?
I’d say that I’m fairly good at creating/scripting media (i.e slideshows, templates on Canva).
Pronouns
she/her and they/them
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Northeast
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To help spread awareness about mental health.
What’s your super skill?
I’m good in social situations and I’m good at helping people.
Pronouns
she/her
Grade
9
What year did you join ThriveSMH?
2022
Region
Central
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
Becoming apart of ThriveSMH, I desired to promote mental health awareness and student well being. Pursuing my goals, I would love to extend community understanding of mental health concerns in hopes of removing the stigma. All to make it easier for individuals to seek help.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is my creativity, leadership & teamwork.
How to get involved
You have the power to make a difference in school mental health. You can start by taking care of your mental health and supporting your friends. But you can also get involved with activities at your school, school board, or with us to help more students.
Your voice matters. To learn how you can get involved to impact mental health at your school or school board, speak to your guidance counsellor or principal/vice-principal about opportunities at your school.
Connect with us
Subscribe to receive our emails to keep up to date with opportunities and new resources.
Follow ThriveSMH on Instagram to stay up to date with the team @ThriveSMH