Helping Students Build Their Sources of Strength

Life is full of ups and downs. And while we can't always control the challenges that come our way, knowing all our sources of strength can make it easier to ride the waves.

In River East Transcona School Division, one of the ways we help students build that knowledge is through Sources of Strength, a mental well-being and suicide prevention program that helps young people recognize the people, activities and resources they can turn to when life gets difficult.

At its heart is a simple idea: students don't have to face life's challenges alone.

The program introduces students from early years through senior years to the Sources of Strength Wheel — a visual reminder of the different sources of support and strength available to them. These include family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality, medical access, and mental health support.

But Sources of Strength isn't just about learning what's on the wheel. It's about helping students recognize and use those sources of strength in their own lives — and encouraging them to help others do the same.

All the early years schools in RETSD have access to the program’s message and lessons through a curriculum. But in middle and senior years schools, it is student-led. A cadre of peer leaders brainstorm and develop activities and campaigns alongside adult advisors that promote connection, kindness, inclusion, and hope within their schools and help other students to build their understanding of the wheel.

“It's a way to spread kindness and inclusivity in our school,” said Ayomide, a grade 7 student at École Munroe Middle School who participated in the program last year and is excited to be involved again. “We do different activities that help people feel seen and to create calm and comfort. All the campaigns we do brighten students' days. Kindness goes a long way.”

At Munroe, last year's activities included a hot chocolate day, with students receiving free cups of hot chocolate decorated with positive messages. Students also took part in a school-wide Kindness Bingo game, completing acts of kindness from their bingo cards, and a scavenger hunt that challenged them to find pieces of the Sources of Strength Wheel hidden throughout the school.

An assembly introduced students to the program and the wheel, helping turn the concepts into something students could see, understand, and put into action.

“Sources of Strength is a place you can be yourself, find friends, and do activities that help people,” said Ayomide. “I'm glad we have the program in our school.”

For students, the opportunity to lead these activities is part of what makes Sources of Strength meaningful.

“We are changing people's lives with little acts of kindness and the activities we do,” said Ava, a grade 8 student. “It makes kids happy. But we also teach them about the Sources of Strength Wheel and to have a growth mindset.”

And the work doesn't stop at individual schools. Last year, MY students from across the division came together for a Sources of Strength windup, sharing the activities they had developed and the impact they had seen in their schools. The event gave students an opportunity to learn from one another, celebrate their ideas, and build on each other's successes.

Now, a new school year brings new ideas at the eleven MY and SY schools running the program. At Munroe, student leaders are looking forward to a “Cool to be Kind” popsicle day and creating a Recipe for Kindness video where students share their ideas about the ingredients needed for friendship and well-being.

“Sources of Strength helps people with a lot of issues they might be struggling with,” said Elijah, a grade 7 student leader. “I'm excited for the new ideas we have for this year.”

Because sometimes, building a culture of well-being can look like a big conversation about mental health. And sometimes, it looks like a cup of hot chocolate with a kind message, a friend who makes you feel welcome, or a student choosing to do something that brightens someone else's day.

Each of those moments adds awareness of another strength.

And when students know their sources of strength — and know where to turn when they need support — they are better equipped to navigate life's ups and downs.