1. Supporting Children and youth Mental Health and Well-Being
Presentation to OAPCE:
TCDSB’s Mental Health Strategy and
Building our Children's’ Resilience
Supporting Children and youth Mental Health and Well-Being
Patricia Marra-Stapleton
M.SC.,C. Psych. Assoc.
Psychological Associate

2. Today
Overview of the TCDSB Student Mental health and Well-being Strategy
What is resilience ?
Why is it important for our children?
How to cultivate resilience with our children…
Resiliency for parents

3. Some Basic Facts About Childhood/Adolescent Mental Health
Approximately 1 in 5 children/youth have a mental health disorder.
Mental health issues can seriously impair a youth’s ability to function at home or at school.
Mental health disorders are treatable. Early prevention is critical.
Treatment reduces symptoms, youth will still need our understanding and support.

4. THE MENTAL HEALTH Continuum
High Level of Mental Health / Coping
COPING, and has Mental illness
COPING, and No Mental Illness
High Level of Mental Illness
Low Level Of Mental Illness
NOT COPING, and has Mental illness
NOT COPING, and No Mental Ilness
Low level of Mental Health / Low Coping

5. 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

6. Strategy Priorities for the First 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
School Mental Health ASSIST

7. “ Journey to Wellness” : TCDSB’s Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy

8. For reflection individual or in groups.
For all Audiences
For reflection individual or in groups.
Guiding questions
Which messages from the video resonated most with you?
What assumptions and biases held about mental health might need to be challenged?

9. TCDSB Mental Health & Well-Being Strategy 2015-18.
Building Foundations : Developing Skills and Knowledge : Supporting Well-Being and Decreasing Stigma: Engaging Families: Partnering with the Community

10. Interconnected Initiatives
School Boards
Health care
settings
Community
MOHLTC
Nurse Leaders
MHA Nurses in DSB program
Service Collaboratives
SSLI
MCYS
MH Workers with Schools
Working Together
EDU
SMH ASSIST
MH Lead
School Mental Health ASSIST

11. TCDSB MH Response Guidelines: A PATHWAY to Care
First Contact
Response to First Contact: if urgent see appropriate attachments/links.
Consultation with SBSLT/Case Conference.
Mental Health Referral criteria for Psychology and Social Work outlined

12. TCDSB Suicide Intervention Guidelines
Phase 1 Staff Person is Alerted to Risk of Suicide
Phase 2 Designated Staff determine actions
Phase 3 Contact Parent(s), Guardian(s)
Phase 4 TCDSB staff who have completed ASIST Training conducts a Suicide Risk Review
Phase 5 Develop a Safe Plan
Phase 6 Follow Up

13. Resilience is about them, but it is about us too
Being present helps to build our personal resilience.
Being present helps us to help others.
We need to be intentional about presence

14. A lighthearted cartoon defining resilience (www. in-equilibrium.co.uk)
What is Resilience?
A lighthearted cartoon defining resilience
(www. in-equilibrium.co.uk)

15. What is Resilience?
An ability to cope with life’s challenges ( big or small)..
A set of abilities or assets that help us cope.
Assets that come from life experiences AS WELL AS our relationship with others .
Parents can help their children “ cultivate” resilience.

16. Some Examples
Sandy age 14, gets into a huge fight with some girls in her class. They are posting unkind posts on FB. She decides to talk to her mom about it. She also decides to hang out with a girl from her soccer team instead.
Justin age 11, is overwhelmed by his homework, and decides to put it off until 10 pm. This results in a huge blow out at home. He goes to school the next day angry and without his work. He thinks “ What’s the use…”
Bouncing Back : She used her “ relationship” assets to seek support. She also problem solved by hanging out with another friend.
By not seeking help, or using resources, Justin does not have an opportunity to “ bounce back”. Small problems may become big problems.

17. Why is Resilience So important?
It can act as A “protective” factor, and support mental well-being and growth.
It can help reduce our exposure to stress…. Stress can lead to unnecessary anxiety.
It helps us to prepare to face adversity.

18. Cultivation of Resilience in Children ( and us too!)
What our Children need to develop:
Relationships and reaching out.
Emotional Skills
Competence
Optimism

19. Building Resilience in our children
What parents need to support:
The Parent Child Relationship
Parent Child Communication
Positive Discipline
Optimistic Thinking
Dealing with Stress

20. The Cultivation of Personal Resilience
Get Connected: Its about relationships
Make every day meaningful
Learn from experience
Remain hopeful
Take care of yourself: engage in personal renewal
Be proactive

21. Accepting Active Attentive Aware Balanced Brave Calm Caring Centered
TO BE LIST
Accepting Active Attentive Aware Balanced Brave Calm Caring Centered
Collaborative Compassionate
Co-operative Courageous
Creative Daring Determined Empathetic Expressive Free Forgiving Friendly Funny Generous Giving Grateful Happy Helpful Honest Hopeful Humane Imaginative Inspired Joyful Kind Loving Mindful
Non-Judgmental Open-Hearted Optimistic
Patient Peaceful Playful Positive Present Proud Questioning Realistic Relaxed Respectful Satisfied Sincere Strong Trusting Understanding Virtuous Welcoming Wise Excited Youthful Zany
Take a few moments, after a few deep breaths, to set an intention about how you choose to BE today. Imagine what you will need to think and do to BE this particular “way”... and then...just be.
INSPIRED BY SHARI GELLER & PATRICIA MARRA-STAPLETON

22. Resilience is a Team Sport
Presence and Resilience UNDERPINS Mental Health and Well-Being for them, and for us.

23. Patricia Marra –Stapleton, C. Psych. Assoc.
THANK YOU
Patricia Marra –Stapleton, C. Psych. Assoc.