Mental Health and Well-Being
From Literacy to Empowerment
Patrick Carney, PhD., C. Psych.
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Ontario, Canada
2012-2013
2. MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION
MENTAL HEALTH
Family Life Education
All might agree that, Mental Health (MH) is an
essential component of Health and Well-Being.
Mental Health may be defined as ‘the emotional and
spiritual resilience that enables us to enjoy life and
survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a
positive sense of wellbeing and an underlying belief
in our own and others’ dignity and worth.’
Health and Physical Education Curriculum
EDUCATOR MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY
… the knowledge, beliefs and skills that assist
educators in promoting positive student well-being,
and in recognizing, preventing and/or managing
mental health or substance abuse problems at
school. School-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Consortium
SIX AREAS OF FOCUS FOR SCHOOLS TO
SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH:
1. STIGMA REDUCTION
Dramatic Arts Class Productions
Youth Leadership Forums
Mental Health Week: Class Activities, Rallies
NFB Films in Language Arts
School Welcome Signage & Newsletters
MH Literacy Workshops for all:
Trustees
Senior Administration
Principals & Vice Principals
Class Teachers
Occasional Teachers
Educational Assistants
Resource Teachers
Student Success
Chaplaincy
Board Consultants
Safety Committee
Parents
TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008
www.PosterPresentations.com
PRIORITY INITIATIVES FOR 2012/2013
~Mental Health Lead coordinating a deepening
Psychological Assessment and Consultation
of MH literacy and further development in six
My Health E-Tool Self-Screening
areas of focus for Student Mental Health
~Weekly availability of School Counsellors,
E-Communications
~Start Talking Simcoe County
~Mind Matters
Social Workers, School Counsellors
Intake Assessments and Weekly Support
Social Workers and Psychologists making
Promoting Positive Relationships Workshops
Interdisciplinary Team Process for Differentiated
Learning per MH Resource Guide
Health services where indicated
Secondary MH Wellness Weeks
Other definitions have also drawn attention to the
skills, abilities and orientations involved in ‘building
relationships’, ‘coping with stress’ and ‘managing
change’.(http://www.mindmatters.edu)
5. INTERNAL SUPPORT PATHWAYS FOR
IDENTIFIED HIGH NEEDS STUDENTS
Staff Wellness Activities
TOP KID intensive behaviour program involving
School Counsellor, Psychologist and Educational
Assistant to support school team intervention plan
referrals to primary care and community Mental
~MH lead continue as CoChair of COMPASS
Coordinated Management plus further
expansion of community collaboration per
SSLI, WTFKMH, LHIN, Family Support Project
and CAMH Service Collaborative
3. SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Roots of Empathy
Restorative Justice Practices
E-Communications
~My Health Magazine
~Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and
Youth Mental Health
P.A.L.S. Playground Activity Leaders
Secondary Inclusive Activity Project
4. PREVENTION FOR HIGH RISK GROUPS
Suicide Response Protocols - All Staff
Understanding Our Perspective ‘UP’ Project
Youth Empowerment re: substance use
6. EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIP PATHWAYS
Student Support Leadership Initiative (SSLI) and
COMPASS in County Coalition
211 Service Maps
Single Plan Of Care
Youth Justice Transition
Triple P Parenting
County Suicide Response Protocol
Catholic Family Services
through cell phones and First Class
~Distribute new Mental Health Resource
Guide throughout board along with
Mental Health Literacy Workshops
~Implement revised Suicide Prevention
Guidelines and Provide Refresher Training of
Guidelines in Elementary Schools
~Expand Roots of Empathy for Social-Emotional
CMHA Substance Counselling
~Support Mental Health Implementation Plan
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Race Against Drugs; Truth & Consequences
for each Student Success Team
McMaster University Attendance Study
~Expand Restorative Justice Practices
Competence development
~Implement plan to pilot My Health Magazine
~Expand Playground Activity Leaders in Schools
Kinark Section 23 Classes
Crown Ward Education Champion Teams
Collaborative Problem-Solving Training
Kids Help Phone Promotion
mental health crises by MH professional staff
Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)
MH & Addictions Steering
Practitioner/ Pediatrician MH Collaboration
Crisis Intervention Training
for Anxiety Escalation & Safety Plans
~Continue same-day response consultation for
(P.A.L.S.) in elementary schools
~Support Inclusive Activity Project in secondary
~McMaster University Attendance Research
Integrated Knowledge Translation action
Ontario Coalition for Children & Youth MH
~Implement Youth Justice Transition Plan
University/College Counselling Practica
~Promote Pediatrician Communication Tools
Working Together For Kids Mental Health
~Participate in Ontario Coalition for Children
and Youth Mental Health
ABC’s of MH Web Resource
Family Support Navigation Project - Parents for
Children’s MH / Kinark
~Streamline service partnerships for MH and
-Attendance Strategy
CAMH Service Collaborative
~Distribute FASD Resource guide for Educators
substance abuse counselling in Schools
to all schools and provide SERT inservice