Meet Alumni Jihan Ahmed
What began as a class project with I-Think’s Well-Being Challenge Kit has grown into a movement led by Jihan Ahmed, who organized his school’s first Mental Health Day and now serves as the Toronto District School Board’s Mental Health Ambassador, mentoring youth and leading mental health initiatives across schools.
In Grade 10, Jihan Ahmed’s history class at SATEC W.A. Porter Collegiate Institute took on I-Think’s Well-Being Challenge Kit. What began as a class project soon grew into a city-wide movement for student well-being that transformed Jihan’s high school experience.
Jihan and his peers successfully led a school-wide Mental Health Day entirely run by students, as a direct result of the Well-Being Challenge Kit. A year later, Jihan is proud to be in a new leadership role, “I have since become the Mental Health Ambassador in the Toronto District School Board.” Today, he continues to collaborate with the Board’s Systemic Leader for Mental Health to bring programming to both parents and students, while also mentoring youth from 20 schools and helping implement over 15 mental health events city-wide. Beyond schools, he advances civic engagement as a member of the Toronto Mayor’s Youth Council.
From pitching an idea to making it real
Looking back, Jihan admits he was skeptical when learning about well-being in a history class. Conducting observations around the school, Jihan first thought the problem was that school lacked “fun.” Students were typically alone or in a study circle, quietly immersed in their academics. He soon came to understand the limits of his models. Through student interviews and surveys, his group learned of the stress overwhelming their peers, and their lack of coping skills to manage it. With further research, the group proposed a bold idea at a presentation of their thinking: a Mental Health Day without classes, replaced by workshops, keynote speakers, including the retired Chief of Mental Health at Sick Kids Hospital, and activities on stress management and resilience.
Determined to bring the Mental Health Day to life, Jihan spent his summer rallying partners and resources. “I mean, to be completely honest, it was very hard,” he said. His Superintendent was at the presentations and was so impressed that she contributed to their budget. “Because of that, I decided I wanted to make this actually happen,” Jihan said.
He reached out to a dozen nonprofit organizations, securing eight as event partners, and received a $5,000 grant from the City of Toronto. With thousands in funding and strong community support, the team delivered an immersive day of learning, connection, and food for nearly 2,000 students. “It was a team effort,” Jihan emphasizes, the support of his team and adults at the school to make the day possible.
He’s grateful for I-Think’s Real-World Problem Solving Journey which helped him and his team slow down their thinking, taking the time to understand the actual problem, and deliver action that meets the needs of their peers.
