suggestions for supporting student mental health and well-being mental health awareness in ontario...
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SUGGESTIONS FOR SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Mental Health Awareness in Ontario
School Boards1
DRAFTSchool Mental Health
ASSIST Webinar Series
School Mental Health ASSIST
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is a provincial team designed to help Ontario school boards to support student mental health and well-
being
School Mental Health ASSIST
Équipe d’appui en santé mentale pour les écoles
School Mental Health ASSIST
1. Organizational Conditions for Eff ective School Mental Health
2. Mental Health Capacity-Building for Educators
3. Implementation of Evidence-Based Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Programming
Three Areas of Focus
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School Mental Health ASSIST will help ALL school boards
to support student mental health & well-being
By providing hands-on resources to build Mental
Health Awareness
and to support effective decision-making in school
mental health
School Mental Health ASSIST 4
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It is part of Ontario’s
Mental Health and
Addictions Strategy
Open Minds, Healthy Minds is the comprehensive, 10-year strategy designed to address mental health and
addictions needs in Ontario
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/mental/pdf/open_minds_healthy_minds_en.pdf
School Mental Health ASSIST
Strategy Priorities for the Next 3 Years
Close Critical Service Gaps
• Increase availability of culturally appropriate services and serve more children and youth• in Aboriginal, remote and
underserved communities
• With complex mental health needs
• At the key transition point from secondary to post-secondary education
Identify & Intervene Early
• Provide tools and support to those in contact with children and youth so they can identify mental health issues sooner
• Provide resources for effective responses to mental health issues
• Build mental health literacy and local leadership
Fast Access to High Quality Services
• Build capacity in the community-based sector
• Reduce wait times• Meet community needs• Link education, child and
youth mental health, youth justice, health care, and the community
Support System Change• Support development of an effective and accountable service system for all Ontarians• Build on efforts that promote evidence-informed practice, collaboration, and efficiencies • Develop standards and tools to better measure outcomes for children and youth
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School Mental Health ASSIST
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Starting with Child and Youth Mental Health Our Vision:
An Ontario in which children and youth mental health is recognized as a key determinant of overall health and well-being, and where children and youth reach their full potential.
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Provide fast access to high quality service
Kids and families will know where to go to get what they need and services will be available to respond
in a timely way.
Identify and intervene in kids’ mental health needs early
Professionals in community-based child and youth mental health agencies and teachers will learn how to
identify and respond to the mental health needs of kids.
Close critical service gaps for vulnerable kids, kids in key transitions, and those in
remote communitiesKids will receive the type of specialized service they need
and it will be culturally appropriate
TH
EM
ES
IND
ICA
TO
RS • Reduced child and youth suicides/suicide
attempts
• Educational progress (EQAO)
• Fewer school suspensions and/or expulsions
• Decrease in severity of mental health issues through treatment
• Decrease in inpatient admission rates for child and youth mental health
• Higher graduation rates
• More professionals trained to identify kids’ mental health needs
• Higher parent satisfaction in services received
• Fewer hospital (ER) admissions and readmissions for child and youth mental health
• Reduced Wait Times
OVERVIEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS STRATEGY - FIRST 3 YEARS
INIT
IAT
IVE
S
Provide designated mental health workers in
schools
Implement Working Together for Kids’ Mental
Health
Hire Nurse Practitioners for eating disorders program
Improve service coordination for high needs
kids, youth and families
Implement standardized tools for outcomes and needs
assessment
Amend education curriculum to cover
mental health promotion and address stigma
Develop K-12 resource guide for educators
Implement school mental health ASSIST program &mental health literacy
provincially
Enhance and expand Telepsychiatry model and
services
Provide support at key transition points
Hire new Aboriginal workers Implement Aboriginal Mental
Health Worker Training Program
Create 18 service collaboratives
Expand inpatient/outpatient services for child and youth
eating disorders
Reduce wait times for service, revise service contracting, standards, and reporting
Funding to increase supply of child and youth mental
health professionals
Improve public access to service information
Pilot Family Support Navigator model
Y1 pilot
Increase Youth Mental Health Court Workers
Provide nurses in schools to support mental health
services
Implement Mental Health Leaders in selected
School Boards
Outcomes, indicators and development of scorecard
Strategy Evaluation
Interconnected Initiatives
School Boards
Health care settings
Community
settings
MOHLTCNurse LeadersMHA Nurses in DSB programService CollaborativesSSLI
MCYSMH Workers with SchoolsWorking Together SSLI
EDUSMH ASSIST SSLI
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Resources to support mental health awareness
Web space re lated to School Mental Health in Ontar io
ht tp : / / smh-ass i s t . ca /
Dec is ion-making tools
Support for Local P lanning
Presentat ions and Workshops
An Educator Guide to Student Mental Health
2011-2012 access to MyHealth Magazine
ht tp : / /www.myhea l thmagaz ine .net /
Interminister ia l Coordinat ion of In i t iat ives
What Can School Boards Expect?
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Mental Health Awareness in Ontario
School Boards
Webinar Series – Session 1
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Webinar Series Overview
1. Mental Health Awareness in Ontario School Boards Audiences: All Education Sector Audiences
2. Building and Sustaining District Conditions for Effective School Mental Health Audiences: Trustees, Directors, Superintendents, Chief Social
Workers / Psychologists
3. Building and Sustaining School Conditions for Effective School Mental Health Audiences: Superintendents, School Administrators, School
Mental Health Professionals, Guidance, Student Success, Special Educators
4. Building and Sustaining Classroom Conditions for Effective School Mental Health Audiences: Teachers, Educational Assistants
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Suggested Uses for Webinar Series
School Mental Health ASSIST
Designed to be a flexible resource for educators
Could be used as part of a visioning meeting, a professional development session, or self-study
Select the Webinar that is right for you!
Ontario Ministry of Education
Deliver as a Webinar
OR
Use/Tailor the Slide Deck
Draw on the Facilitation Guide for Ideas for Creating an Engaging Staff Development Session
Mental Health Awareness Webinars
Mental Health Awareness is Not an Event
It is an iterative deepening of knowledge that is embedded within school board life
The tools in the School Mental Health ASSIST Webinar Series can be a helpful start, or an enhancement, to board initiatives in this area
The Mental Health Awareness session can be offered in isolation, or as a precursor to any of the sessions in the Series
School Mental Health ASSIST
The Mental Health Capacity Continuum
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The right information, to the right people, in the right way, at the right time
Mental Health Awareness
Mental Health Literacy
Mental Health Expertise
Strategies for providing basic mental health information, tailored for different school
board audiences
Strategies for ensuring deeper working knowledge for those who have a role in supporting
student mental health
Strategies for ensuring that SMH professionals possess the
skills and knowledge to effectively provide evidence-
based SMH promotion, prevention, and intervention
ALL SOME FEW
Child and Youth Mental Health – The Basics
The Role of School Boards
The Role of Community
Recommendations and Next Steps
Mental Health Awareness Session Overview
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Child and Youth Mental Health
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease
or infi rmity”
World Health Organization
Mental Health is…
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Mental Health… Exists on a Continuum
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Much of what we do in school boards, every day – teaching,
caring, helping – is foundational to good mental health
Our goal is to enhance the health and well-being of all children and youth, and to minimize the burden of mental illness for those students who struggle.
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Emotional, behavioural and brain-related diffi culties that interfere with
development, relationships, attendance, and achievement
Diffi cult ies that are severe and pers istent enough to cause s ignifi cant symptoms, d istress, and impairment in one or more areas of dai ly l i fe are termed mental health disorders/ mental i l lness
Mental Health Problems are…
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Mental Health Problems…Begin Early
In 70% of cases, the onset of problems begins before age 18…
…50% before age 14
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Mental Health Problems… Are Prevalent
1 in 5 students will experience a mental health problem…
One in Five
Every School….Every Classroom
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Mental health problems are characterized by many diff erent signs and symptoms, and present in various forms:
Some mental health problems manifest outwardly (externalizing)
Students appear aggressive, impulsive, coercive, non-compliant
Some mental health problems manifest inwardly (internalizing)
Students appear sad, anxious, withdrawn, lonely
Mental Health Problems… Include a Range of Emotional
Difficulties
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Problems with: Anxiety Attention Conduct Mood Substance Use and Addictions
Common Mental Health Problems Seen At School…
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If one mental health disorder is present, other problems are also likely 45% of students will have more than one area of diffi culty
Other mental health disorders, learning and school-related problems, health problems, substance use, risk-taking behaviour, difficulty with the law
Mental Health Problems are Co-morbid…
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Biological infl uences E.g., genetic conditions, chemical imbalances
Early life experiences• E.g., early losses, trauma
Individual factors• E.g., ways of thinking, poor coping strategies
Life circumstances• E.g., family stress, poverty, school stress
Mental Health Problems are related to a Combination of
Factors…
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One in fi ve Ontario students will not achieve their academic potential because of a mental health problem These students may also struggle to maintain good relationships with peers, family, educators They experience social and emotional pain on a regular basis
isolation, despair, anger, worry, confusion…
Mental Health Problems… Cause Distress
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Mental Health Disorders… Can have Lethal Consequences
Feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and lack of support can result in suicidal behaviour.
1 in 10 youth report having attempted suicide.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in ages 16-24 (Stats Canada, 2002)
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School Mental Health ASSIST
There are proven strategies and supports to address child and youth mental health problems Early identifi cation and intervention improves prognosisPsychosocial and pharmacological treatments are most common, and are often used together While many mental disorders are chronic, there are ways to help children and families to cope and to maintain a good quality of life
Mental Health Problems… Are Treatable
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School Mental Health ASSIST
Social Emotional Learning is not neutral Important to use evidence-based approaches for student mental health issues Many examples of programs that are unproven Some examples of programs that HARM
The Importance of Evidence…
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We should be evaluating local programs and strategies, especially if they are untested
Up to 80% of children and youth who experience a mental health problem will not receive treatment Major barriers include:
Stigma Misidentification / lack of identification of
symptoms Lack of local services
Most Children and Youth…Do Not Receive the Help They
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The Role of School Boards
Children and youth are with us six hours a day, five days a week. We can have an enormous influence in shaping well-being.
Schools are uniquely positioned to promote
positive child and youth mental health.
Schools … Have a Unique Opportunity to Support Mental
Health
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Schools are an optimal setting in which to:
Reduce stigma Promote positive mental health Build student social-emotional learning skills Prevent mental health problems in high risk groups Identify students in need Support pathways to service
Schools… Are an Excellent Place to Support Student
Mental Health
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Educators are the “eyes and ears” that can help to identify a student in need of support.
Educators are NOT Clinicians, but they can play an important role in supporting child and youth mental health
Educators need tools and resources in order to be the caring adults that they want to be!
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Universal Mental Health Promotion, Social-Emotional Learning
Targeted Prevention
Indicated Intervention
Our focus, in District School Boards, is to create mentally healthy environments for students, to provide universal mental health promotion programs in areas of need, and to build skills amongst students who are vulnerable through prevention programming
Support…Can be offered through a
Tiered Support Model
To be caring adults in the lives of students
To promote positive mental health through school- and class-wide strategies
To build social emotional skills for ALL students
To identify students in need of enhanced support and to help them along a pathway to care
When it comes to Mental Health, our Primary Roles as
Educators can be…
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The need for mental health services and supports is great
Schools are not equipped to intervene with students who are exhibiting severe mental il lness
But, schools are important players within a larger system of care
We Can’t Do It All!
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The Role of Community
Include community mental health agencies, hospitals and clinics, and youth justice organizationsHave expertise in the treatment of children and youth with serious mental il lnessAre designed to provide individual and group therapy to children and their families
Our Community Partners in Mental Health…
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We have gotten to know each other better through the Student Support Leadership InitiativeSome communities have moved ahead with joint projects, protocols and pathways to serviceAs communities, we need to decide how we will care for our most fragile children and youth, and how to help them access the help they need.
Working with Community Partners
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Universal Mental Health Promotion, Social-Emotional Learning
Targeted Prevention
Indicated Intervention
Indicated Intervention
Targeted Prevention
Universal Mental Health Promotion We are better
together!
Community
School Boards
Schools… Need to Work Closely with Community
Partners
This is complex work! There are lots of steps along the way…
Provincial Level (e.g., interministry coordination, SMH ASSIST)
Board Level (e.g., MH Strategy, coordinated mental health literacy training, menu of evidence-based strategies) School Level (e.g.,
enhanced staff understanding of students with behavioral problems and helpful strategies, more accurate identification and referral, more caring adults), enhanced partnership with families
Student Level (e.g., enhanced sense of belonging, more help-seeking, stronger coping skills)
Better mental health and academic outcomes
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But, if we all work together, Ontario students will benefit from better mental health and well-being!
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Next Steps in your Board
We are all on the same path, but may be on different parts of the
journey.
Every board is unique.
Every school is unique.
Every student is unique.
Acknowledge your strengths as a board/school/community
Identify areas of need
Create a feasible plan
Include attention to organizational conditions, mental health awareness building, and evidence-based programming
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Kathy Short, Ph.D., C.Psych.Director, School Mental Health [email protected], x2634
Contact School Mental Health
ASSIST
School Mental Health ASSIST
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