The Student Wellbeing Committee and the Rainbow Youth group are celebrating Pink Shirt Day this term.

As the Mental Health Foundation website states, Pink Shirt Day is an antibullying campaign that celebrates diversity and creates environments where all people can feel safe, valued and respected. Each year, workplaces, schools, organisations and individuals join the movement to make a stand against bullying.

Aotearoa has the third-highest rate of school bullying out of 36 OECD countries. People who identify as part of the rainbow community experience higher rates of bullying, and studies show people who are bullied are more likely to experience mental health issues

In order to celebrate the day, we are going to have a display set up in Girton by May 20th with some positive posters as well as stickers, compliment cards, and kōrero-starter cards to help foster connections and normalise checking in with one another. We will run some activities in our Form and Whānau classes as well. Talking to our friends and colleagues about mental health is a great way to become a better upstander.

We will also have a kākahu kāinga this Term, where students are encouraged to wear pink in the spirit of Pink Shirt Day. All funds raised will go towards the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.