Supporting Student Mental Health at the TDSB

P.I.A.C ConferenceParents Make A Difference

Increasing Knowledge & Enhancing Confidence November 15, 2014 Heather Johnson

Social Worker Mental Health & Well-Being System Support

Schools are optimal settings to:• Promote positive mental health• Reduce stigma• Build social-emotional learning skills • Work to prevent mental health problems in high

risk groups (students who many have multiple issues)

• Identify students in need of support • Articulate paths to intervention

SMH ASSIST

Why are Schools Excellent Places to Support Student Mental Health and Well-Being?

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What guides our work at the TDSB? …

• School Mental Health(SMH) ASSIST –a Ministry of Education implementation support team designed to help Ontario school boards promote student mental health and well-being through leadership, practical resources and systematic research-based approaches to school mental health

• SMH ASSIST began in the 2011-12 school year and over the next 3 years, phased in all 72 Ontario Boards

• The TDSB was included at the beginning of Sept. 2012 school year

• An additional Social Worker- Mental Health Training and Promotion, was hired in Sept. 2014 by the TDSB, recognizing the scope of the work at the TDSB

Upstream

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qarQXqKbmLg

What do we picture when we hear “mental health?”

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What is Mental Health? “... A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

World Health Organization

Mental Health Exists on a Continuum

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Tiered Mental Health Supports

All (caring classrooms, mental

health promotion, social-emotional learning instruction,

stigma reduction)

Some(targeted

prevention)

Few

Our focus, is to create mentally healthy environments for students and to build skills amongst students who are struggling through prevention programming

Clinical intervention for students with mental health concerns occurs largely in partnership with community and health settings

All of us have mental health

• It is like physical health – on a continuum which can vary over time

• It depends on many factors including: life circumstances and biological dispositions

• Mental illnesses, like physical illnesses, exist with a range of severity and treatment options

MH Interventions Can be Simple Acts of Kindness

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1wWhLzDRIY

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The TDSB Commitment is Clear…

Mental Health and Well-Being is essential to

student success.

We will make children and youth mental health

and well-being a priority at the

Toronto District School Board.

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Mental Health & Well-Being Strategic PlanCreating Mentally Healthy Schools

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Children and Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy

Highlights of the Implementation of the Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy - Year 2

1. High Quality Services and ProgramsOngoing professional learning and training of staff to further understanding and knowledge of Mental Health and Well-Being:

a) Anxiety b) Suicide prevention, intervention and postvention

2. A Caring School Culture and Healthy Physical EnvironmentMental Health Action Plans and Mental Health Teams in every school

a) Evidence based practices and programs in schools will be highlightedb) A “Caring Adult” program in every school

3. Parent and Community PartnershipsEnhance parent and community agency engagement, as partners in supporting students’ mental health and well-being:c) A winter/spring Parent Symposium on Mental Health awareness d) Other events/workshops/conferences to increase awareness of mental health

and well-being

4. A Supportive Social EnvironmentExpansion and enhancement of anti-stigma initiatives in middle schools and secondary schools

e) A winter/spring Student Symposium on anti-stigmaPromote students’ mental well-being by fostering resiliency, self-regulation and positive self-esteem

Mental Health Belongs to Us

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Parent and Community Partnerships

• Expanding and strengthening mental health partnerships to meet schools needs - utilizing Professional Support staff to foster partnerships ie. Toronto Public Health (promoting mental health), Children’s Mental Health Agencies

• Enhance parental engagement and on-going communication between home and school – newsletters, emails, parents education events and members of School Mental Health Teams. Parent Symposium May 2015

How do I know when something is wrong??

• The first rule…”trust yourself”. You know your child / teenager. Trust what you hear and see.

• Parents can also observe mood changes or behaviours that seem excessive or unusual which could indicate a mental health problem.

• Consider frequency, intensity and duration when noticing an area of concern.

• When behaviour interferes significantly with a child / youth’s functioning at home, at school or in the community seek additional help from your school, family doctor or a community service provider.

THE RANGE OF TDSB MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

• Social Worker/Attendance• Psychologist• Child and Youth Counselor/Worker• Guidance Counsellor• Speech and Language Pathologist• Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapy• Autism Spectrum Disorder Team• Behavior Resource Team• Safe and Caring Schools• Aboriginal Education Team • Gender Based Violence Team• Student Equity

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COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Referrals are also made to our community partners;

• Children’s Mental Health Centres• Community Mental Health and Addiction Agencies• Family Doctors, Pediatricians, Psychiatrists• Hospital Mental Health Programs – In and Out

patient, and Emergency Dept.• Parents for Children’s Mental Health http

://www.pcmh.ca/ • 211 Toronto• Mental Health& Addiction Nurses

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Parents and Caregivers are Important

• The parent-child relationship impacts the child’s and adolescent’s feelings of self-worth, dignity, identify and belonging.

• Through interactions with their children and adolescents, parents are in a unique position to strengthen these important elements of mental health.

Relationships with caring adults!

• Parents• Caregivers• Family / Friends• Teachers/ School Staff• Community members• Peers

Student Mental Health depends on…

10 Strategies for Parents to Foster Positive Mental Health

1. Model good mental health habits. (How do you deal with stress?)

2. Make sure they get enough sleep!3. Encourage kids to exercise.4. Encourage creative outlets.5. Provide a space of their own.6. Create a space for kids to talk about their troubles.7. Help them relax.8. Have a predictable routine.9. Foster volunteering and helpfulness.10. Bring fun and playfulness into their lives.

Think of a Time that You’ve been pulled, stretched, pressed, bent...

• The question isn’t whether we’ve had challenges (because we’ve all had challenges!). The question is:

How Do We Cope in the Face of

Challenge!

Factors that Make Kids Resilient

• Structure• Consequences• Parent-Child Connections• Nurturing Relationships• A Powerful Identity• A Sense of Control• A Sense of Belonging/Cultural

Roots/Spirituality/Life Purpose• Fair and Just Treatment• Physical and Psychological Safety

Dr. Michael Ungar

24R E S I L I E N C Y

Being able to cope well with challenges and bounce back from difficult timesMY R E S I L I E N C Y CHECKLIST

“I have a caring relationship with an adult.””

National Sleep Foundation

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Resources TDSB Professional Support Services http://

www.tdsb.on.ca/aboutus/professionalsupportservices.aspx

Children’s Mental Health Ontariohttp://www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/parents/signs_disorders.php

Reaching In – Reaching Out – Promoting Resiliency in Children – a Parent Resource

http://www.reachinginreachingout.com/resources-parents.htm

The ABCs of Mental Health – A Parent Resourcewww.hincksdellcrest.org/abc

Bounce Back 2nd Edition – Available at www.mentalhealth4kids.ca

“Student mental health and well-being impacts everyone and belongs to each of

us.” Donna Quan Director of Education TDSB