What is a Summit?
Each school year, the TAMI Coalition offers a free “Stomping out Stigma” Summit Conference for secondary and intermediate students respectively. The Summit provides a forum for youth to learn about positive mental health and to share their experiences, strengths, insights and action plans in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. The Summit model has been recognized provincially and nationally as a promising practice for anti-stigma work.
What to expect?
Between 120-140 student ambassadors and staff members from approximately 30 schools across Durham Region are invited to come together for a full day of mental health education, experiential exercises, conversation and direct contact with consumer survivors who tell their stories of living with a mental illness and the effects that stigma had on their recovery process.
If you would like more information about upcoming summits, please click on the appropriate board to contact your board's Mental Health Lead/Leader: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Why use this model?
The Summit model has been recognized provincially and nationally as a promising practice for anti-stigma work. In 2007, this model won the Minister’s Award for Innovation in Health Promotion as well as the IBM Leading Practices Award at the 2007 Ontario Hospital Association Health Achieve Expo.
After a Summit
Following past summits, many schools have taken the tools and experiences they obtained at a TAMI Summit to organize mental awareness initiatives such as parent nights, mental health fairs, and school assemblies with the goal of making their schools more open and accepting of those who need the help most.
Students are encouraged to continue to Stomp Out Stigma at their own schools and in their communities by starting clubs, holding events or contests, or using other creative ways to continue to promote mental health. Click here to download the TAMI Summit Action Plan that teachers receive at Summits.
If you’re thinking about taking action at your school visit our Student Action page or check out the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The Headstrong toolkit includes some ideas about how to bring Mental Illness awareness to your school or community. Download it here.
To see highlights from previous SOS Summits, click here