A pilot program called Mile 5 was taught in some middle years classes in the Hanover School Divison.

Mile 5 is a mental illness and literacy education program through the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) which focuses on reducing stigma, defining mental illness and mental health, as well as giving students the necessary skills to cope if they should encounter a situation later on in life where they feel they're struggling mentally.

Geri Robson is the assistant superintendent of student services, she says middle years is a good age to teach students what mental health is and how to cope.

"One of the biggest changes out young people go through is making that jump from Grade 8 to 9, going from middle years to senior years. We're hoping that kids have the skills to understand, I'm going to get through this change; change is tough, but I'm going to get through it because I know what I have to do to reduce the amount of anxiety, reduce my nervousness, get over how scared I am."

CHMA Executive Director Jordan Friesen says Mile 5 has been delivered to students in Grade 7 to 11 in four different school divisions so far this year and is hoping to see the program in another eight school divisions in the fall.

"So far the feedback has been largely positive. What we've noticed is that students have a strong willingness to engage in discussions about mental health and mental illness, it's not a hard sell to get them talking about it. What we've also noticed is that since the teacher is in the classroom when it's being delivered, the conversation carries beyond just that one week of education."

Friesen says there is still work to do in terms of reducing the stigma of mental health and mental illness but notes it's becoming a greater part of public dialogue, which is encouraging.

Robson says learning how to cope and take care of one's mental health is important in continuing to grow and flourish in life.