Oakville youths promote mental health at RAD event by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 25 | Thursday, June 16, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com When it comes to mental health, Oakville student Nick Scarcelli says we need to drop the "suck-it-up" attitude. Instead, there should be a better understanding of the mental health issues facing teens, ways to help them build resilience -- the ability to "bounce back" -- and the means for them to develop healthy coping mechanisms to effectively deal with life challenges, he says. Youths represent all Oakville high schools Scarelli, a Grade 10 student from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, is among a group of 15-18-year-old students representing all Oakville high schools. They're on Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's Oakville Provincial Youth Advisory Committee (OPYAC), which aims to tackle through awareness and/or advocacy issues young Oakville people face. Last month, the group held a Resilience and Determination (RAD) event at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School as part of Mental Health Week. Oakville students were invited to attend and learn about dealing with their emotions through art therapy and breathing yoga. Learning how to handle challenges Scarelli noted, rather than being told how they should deal with their mental health, the students got to experience first-hand how to handle the challenges they may face in their lives. "It was basically to help all students deal with the stresses they may encounter through art therapy, yoga, breathing sessions -- simple things that can really help somebody if they are in a tough situation," said Scarelli, who joined OPYAC because he enjoys politics, business and law, and felt it would be a good opportunity to explore the political field. The Oakville Provincial Youth Advisory Committee (OPYAC) held an art therapy session at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. Pictured, from left, Nicholas Scarcelli (Grade 10, St. Thomas Aquinas), instructor Jazmine TuffordSingh, and Victoria Winslow (Grade 11, Oakville Trafalgar HS) take part in the session. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Introduction to art therapy Art therapist Jazmine Tufford-Singh said she introduced students to what art therapy see Youths on p.33 Custom made or reupholstered to suit your style! Since 1967 SMART LED TV upholstery & design Sofas · Chairs Headboards · Throw Pillows Drapery & Hardware $ SEE STORE FOR DETAILS. SAVE $200 11-2345 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville · 905.616.3156 · www.baiers.ca 598 1080P · 60 MR · 2 HDMI 50" SAMSUNG SMART TV #096068 FORE DAD! Leaky Basement? Call Us! · Crack k Injection nje Repair Specialist · Wise Dry Interior Drain Systems · Lifetime Fully Transferrable Warranty · Masonry/Parging Repairs follow us: walkerschocolates.ca Hamilton | Burlington | Oakville Call Us... 905-510-9739 Professional, Cost E ective Solutions for Wet wayne@wisecracks.com Basements w w w. H a l t o n Wi s e C ra c k s. co m R0063759717