King's student wins two Mental Health Awards
May 10, 2018
Kristin Legault-Donkers is heading into third year at King’s. She was the winner of the Champion of Mental Health Award and the winner of the Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth. Both award receptions were held on Tuesday May 8, 2018.
Legault-Donkers published a series of books on depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder specifically geared for children. These four children’s books discuss mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder. The books were vetted by field experts who know Legault-Donkers and were illustrated by local artist Paul Wilson.
The Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth recognizes one Canadian 21 and younger who has shown leadership in his or her community in promoting mental health or mental illness awareness. This award is offered through the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. Legault-Donkers accepted the award at the annual Champions of Mental Health Awards Gala in Ottawa. She is pictured with Sharon Johnston, the former Governor General, and some of the other award winners.
The Champion of Mental Health Awards recognized an individual and a group who has made a significant contribution to mental wellness in the community. These twin awards were given out at the annual Breakfast of Champions held at the London Convention Centre.
Nokee Kwe’s Positive Voice program for Indigenous women was nominated for the group category. Summer Thorp '11 is Program Coordinator of Positive Voice, a program created to support urban Indigenous women in creating positive narratives and community connections. Thorp researched, created, developed and implemented the program since it was proposed for pilot funding in Fall 2015. The first sessions of the program began in Fall 2016. This program won the The innovation Award at the 2017 Pillar Community Innovation Awards.
The Breakfast of Champions is organized by St. Joseph’s health care foundation and the Middlesex branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. The sold-out breakfast supports mental health programs through St. Joseph’s by St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.
The Rotary Club of London is placing Legault-Donkers’s books in every Thames Valley District school board elementary school over the coming months.
Watch a video and read about the Breakfast of Champions by the London Free Press.