By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Physical and mental health link emphasized at student symposium

Apr 25, 2018 | 2:07 PM

Physical and mental health was the focus of a health symposium at the Collicutt Centre on Wednesday.

A couple hundred students from Red Deer Public Schools spent the better part of their day learning new games, about nutrition, and how to improve their already good leadership skills.

The students in attendance are members of HEART teams, which are at every Red Deer Public school. They typically consist of about 10 students, a staff member or two, and sometimes admin and parents.

Del Lomsnes, Health and Wellness Phys. Ed. Coordinator with RDPS, says the connection between physical activity and nutrition to mental wellness has been proven.

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“With the technology revolution, we’ve found kids aren’t as active as they used to be,” says Lomsnes. “There’s been a real push to having kids learn the fundamental movement skills — the basics like learning to run, catch, throw, jump, skip and hop — so they can be active as they get to be adults.”

Pascal Mourad, a grade 11 student at Hunting Hills, says it when she was too attached to her phone that her overall health suffered.

“Personally I do struggle with anxiety and depression, and whenever I’m doing anything physical, whether it’s even walking — it doesn’t have to be a sport — it does give me a sense of mind and calming,” she says, adding some advice for her fellow youth.

“Physical activity is a good therapy, but it also helps you in the long run. I would recommend just putting the phone aside and go for a walk.”

Students who participated on Wednesday will take some of what they learned back to their classrooms to share with other students and with teachers.

The event was supported by the Red Deer Public Schools Foundation and 360 Fitness.