Making a Difference

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Making a Difference

• An old man walked up a shore strewn with
  thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a
  storm.  A young girl was picking them up and
  flinging them back into the ocean.  "Why do you
  bother," the old man scoffed.  "You're not
  saving enough to make a difference."  The young
  girl picked up another starfish and sent it
  spinning back to the water. 
• "Made a difference to that one," she said. 

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Making a Difference

• Supporting Student Mental Health in Schools

Student Support Leadership Initiative Child and
Youth Mental Health Information Network HWCDSB /
HWDSB
December 2009
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Up to 80 of children will not receive treatment
for mental health difficulties
But they are here, in our schools and classrooms
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There are many ways to Make a Difference

• Increasing educator mental health literacy is one
  important strategy for supporting student
  well-being
• An educator resource is one way to support mental
  health literacy in schools
• Communities across Ontario, across Canada,
• are exploring many ways
• to support educators as they try to promote
• positive mental health in schools.

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A barrier to learning
Mental health disorders among

Canadian youth
Canadian Council on Learning, 2009 Poor mental
health in Canadian school children poses a
significant risk to their academic development
and puts them at greater risk of dropping out of
school, substance abuse and suicide. Schools are
well positioned to be at the vanguard of public
health strategies designed to prevent and detect
mental health disorders among young people.
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SBMHSU Consortium

• Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Consortium Lead - Provincial Centre of Excellence
  for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO
• 38 members, reaching over 60 networks, 4 teams

Overall Objective Through a synthesis of the
literature, a scan of Canadian programs /
services, and a national survey, the Consortium
will develop a broad framework and
policy/practice recommendations related to SBMHSU
in Canada.
Timeline Spring 2009 - Winter 2011
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Scanning the Practice Landscape in School-Based
Mental Health Short, Ferguson, Santor,
2009 http//www.onthepoint.ca/products/product_po
licypapers.htm
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Importance of Mental
Health to Achievement
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Concern about Student
Mental Health
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Educator Preparedness
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SBMH Practices and
Programs
Mental Health Literacy

• New area for most school districts
• Viewed as critical for moving forward
• Mostly at the stage of awareness-building in
  schools and boards (e.g., expert speakers,
  posters)
• Some boards are introducing educator mental
  health workshops, resources, student-based
  consultation services

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The Spectrum of SBMH in school boards
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We need our Community Partners!
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Making a Difference is a Team Effort
Tier 1


Universal
Schools
Tier 1
Universal
Tier 2
Targeted
Tier 2
Tier 3
Targeted
Targeted
Clinical
Tier 3
Clinical
Community
Getting our Acts Together, 2009
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Making a Difference (Hamilton) is a Team Effort

• Student Support Leadership Initiative
• Community Mental Health Organizations
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic DSB
• Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
• Child and Youth Mental Health Information
• Network

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The Educator Mental
Health Resource

• Is new
• Is created from other Canadian guides
• Has been developed by local mental health
  professionals and educators
• Is designed to help you to make a difference for
  your students
• Needs your input so that it truly meets the needs
  of Ontario educators
• Will be shared across the province after the pilot

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Together we can
Thank you for participating in the Making a
Difference Educator Mental Health Resource Pilot!