Grade 11 Healthy Active Living Education Additional Supports ...

egan to date a girl he cared about, his folks gave him no peace until he had given her up.
The pressure on him was tremendous and every exam period was torture. Evan began to
have serious doubts about whether he even wanted to become a doctor, but he felt he
couldnÕt let his parents down.
Evan was accepted at a prestigious university, but he found the work load overwhelming.
He missed his family and high school buddies and was having trouble finding new
friends. Living in residence was a blast Ð the partying and drinking were new to him, and
he partied with whoever invited him. He failed most of his midterm exams and realized
that he couldnÕt let his parents know. That evening he drank too much and drove his
motorcycle off the road. He survived the crash. The don responsible for his floor in the
dorm was concerned and was planning to talk to him.
Case Study #7 Ð Rohan
Since coming to Canada 10 years ago, Rohan has lived with his family near the
downtown core of a major city. He picked up English easily and speaks it exclusively at
school and with friends, but he has to switch back to his first language at home. Rohan
feels torn between the traditional life his parents lead and the life he leads with his fellow
gang members. His parents do not approve of his behaviour, his friends, and his
activities. He feels guilty about disappointing his parents, but knows he cannot turn his
back on the gang. He sees no way out of this clash of cultures. Tonight, after yet another
loud argument with his parents, including threats to kick him out of the house, Rohan
storms out to join his friends. After smoking several joints and downing most of a bottle
of vodka, a group of them go looking for excitement. They find it jumping off an
abandoned building. One boy dares Rohan to jump off the top of a four-story building
next door. To avoid being branded a wimp, Rohan must accept the dare.
At the emergency department a nurse comments, ÒRohan, you jumped off a building, that
was a very dangerous thing to do. What were you thinking and feeling at the time? Was
it your intent to hurt or kill yourself?Ó and Rohan began to wonder if killing himself was
actually his intent.
Grade 11 Healthy Active Living Education (PPL30), Module #2 Positive Mental Health and Stress
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