OLDS — The continuing cycle of pandemic restrictions imposed, then lifted, then reimposed has been really tough on students, Youth Empowerment Support (YES) program success coach Ashten Paquette says, although she adds it’s been brutal for everyone.
The YES program provides support for youth – including mental health assistance.
Paquette said it’s always been important for people to focus on keeping mentally healthy, but with all the restrictions imposed, then dropped, then re-applied, it’s even more important.
“Students need structure, people need structure, adults need structure,” Paquette said during an interview.
“But the unknown of ‘do we get to see our teachers and our friends next week and do we not get to’ throughout the whole school year I think has been really stressful for students and staff and people in the community and parents.”
Last week was Canadian Mental Health Week, a time to focus on improving mental health.
As a success coach for youth, Paquette works with students all the time and she’s seen the stressors brought on by the pandemic up close.
“Just things like not knowing who they can talk to. They don’t really get to communicate with kids outside of their classroom if they have a friend in a different grade level or same grade, different class,” she said.
“They don’t really get to communicate with them and I think for some kids, that’s been really hard, not being in the same class as their friends and not having that mental health piece of that connection.
“They don’t get to do things with other people. They don’t get those sports and the after-school sports.”
She said going to online learning, then back to school, then back online at home has been stressful.
“It's hard, it’s definitely hard for the kids to get in the rhythm of being in a classroom and remembering those expectations and then they’re home and they have different expectations at home,” Paquette said.
“This year it’s good. Like – I don’t want to say good -- better. This year is better because I think that there’s a lot more structure as well with the online programming, which is always good.”
