#GEBeWell Winners Announced in Mental Health Week
Students and classrooms were invited to social media to share ideas on how to be well, and share their methods for improving their health and wellness. They were asked to spread the word on Facebook and Twitter, bringing awareness to the campaign, and to get involved in the online conversation about mental health.
To enter the contest, all one had to do was like, retweet, reply, share, favourite, send a tweet or write a post that showed us all what they do to be well.
According to Shawn McKillop, Manager of Communications and Community Relations, the engagement on social media was more than a contest.
“There were more than 4,000 acts of engagement on both Twitter and Facebook providing a platform for our community to discuss what it means to be well and to reduce the stigma around mental health,” he said.
The launch of the #GEBeWell campaign marks an exciting step in Grand Erie’s journey to well-being. Although, students and staff have engaged in initiatives related to mental health promotion in the past, the Be Well Campaign provided an intentional focus to mental wellness in support to the Child and Youth Mental Health Strategy.
“The Be Well Campaign offered resources to students and parents on how to be well and how to get help when
struggling with difficult topics relating to mental illness,” said Carter.
With thousands of interactions on social media throughout the contest, the conversation has continued to grow. Even with the contest at an end, tweets and posts with the hashtag #GEBeWell continue to pop up across the district, especially during Mental Health Week. There is even a dedicated handle, @GEBeWell, to continue the conversation.
Congratulations to all of the contest winners:
- iPod plus FitBit: Morgan Brewster is a student from Grandview Central in Dunnville
- FitBit: Jennifer Coulter-Bradshaw is a parent from River Heights in Caledonia
- Fitbit: Tommy Hoye is a student from Simcoe Composite School
- Fitbit: Justin Zimmer is a student from Paris District High School
- Fitbit: Lindsay McConkey is a student from Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School
- Wellness Kit: Crystal Lockyer is a parent from Waterford Public School
- Wellness Kit: Mike Degroote is a staff member at Pauline Johnson Institute and Vocational School
- Wellness Kit: Staff members at Grand Erie Learning Alternatives (GELA) in Brantford
- Wellness Kit: Cynthia Gozzard is a staff member at Delhi Public School
- Wellness Kit: Casandra Dyment is a staff member at Simcoe Composite School
In addition to the social media contest, there was a group contest for staff and students on the Be Well website, which generated 72 submissions.
Students and staff entered by telling Grand Erie what they do in the school to Be Well. A student or staff member could enter on behalf of an entire class, group or club. The following schools won a class set of yoga mats, water bottles and an in-class instruction from a professional yoga instructor.
Congratulations to all of the school winners:
- St. George-German (Winning entry by Kaylee Johnson, student)
- Hagersville Elementary School (Winning entry by Cheryl Coate and Christine Bowerman, staff members)
- Tollgate Technological Skills Centre (Winning entry by Gwendalyn Conrad, student)
- Delhi District Secondary School (Winning entry by Alyssa Williams, student)
Contest winners were selected through a randomized selection process.
Congratulations to all winners of the #GEBeWell social media contest.
