1. Supporting Student Mental Health at the TDSB P.I.A.C Conference
Parents Make A Difference
Increasing Knowledge & Enhancing Confidence
November 15, 2014
Heather Johnson
Social Worker Mental Health & Well-Being System Support

2. Schools are optimal settings to: Promote positive mental health
Why are Schools Excellent Places to Support Student Mental Health and Well-Being?
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

3. 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 school year and over the next 3 years, phased in all 72 Ontario Boards
The TDSB was included at the beginning of Sept school year
An additional Social Worker- Mental Health Training and Promotion, was hired in Sept by the TDSB, recognizing the scope of the work at the TDSB
Open Minds Healthy Minds – 10 year Strategy to promote mental health and well being in the province- work between 10 ministries

4. Upstream 4

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

6. 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

7. Mental Health Exists on a Continuum

8. Tiered Mental Health Supports
Clinical intervention for students with mental health concerns occurs largely in partnership with community and health settings
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

9. 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

10. MH Interventions Can be Simple Acts of Kindness

11. 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.

12. Mental Health & Well-Being Strategic Plan Creating Mentally Healthy Schools

13. Mental Health Belongs to Us
Children and Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy
Highlights of the Implementation of the Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy - Year 2
High Quality Services and Programs
Ongoing professional learning and training of staff to further understanding and knowledge of Mental Health and Well-Being:
Anxiety
Suicide prevention, intervention and postvention
A Caring School Culture and Healthy Physical Environment
Mental Health Action Plans and Mental Health Teams in every school
Evidence based practices and programs in schools will be highlighted
A “Caring Adult” program in every school
3. Parent and Community Partnerships
Enhance parent and community agency engagement, as partners in supporting students’ mental health and well-being:
A winter/spring Parent Symposium on Mental Health awareness
Other events/workshops/conferences to increase awareness of mental health and well-being
A Supportive Social Environment
Expansion and enhancement of anti-stigma initiatives in middle schools and secondary schools
A winter/spring Student Symposium on anti-stigma
Promote students’ mental well-being by fostering resiliency, self-regulation and positive self-esteem

15. 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, s, parents education events and members of School Mental Health Teams. Parent Symposium May 2015

16. 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.
Parent-child relationship is a protective factor; however everyone experiences challenges to our mental health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
Parents are also often the first to notice when something is wrong….

17. 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
Through IST and then SST these resources can be accessed

18. 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
211 Toronto
Mental Health& Addiction Nurses

19. 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.

20. Student Mental Health depends on…
Relationships with
caring adults!
Parents
Caregivers
Family / Friends
Teachers/ School Staff
Community members
Peers
Promoting positive student mental health and intervening earlier, involves the connection and relationship between children / youth and the adults in their life.
Healthy Relationships ready children for learning!
Caring adults who know their child / youth or student will also be in the best position to notice when something is wrong!

21. 10 Strategies for Parents to Foster Positive Mental Health
Model good mental health habits. (How do you deal with stress?)
Make sure they get enough sleep!
Encourage kids to exercise.
Encourage creative outlets.
Provide a space of their own.
Create a space for kids to talk about their troubles.
Help them relax.
Have a predictable routine.
Foster volunteering and helpfulness.
Bring fun and playfulness into their lives.

22. 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!

23. 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

24. R E S I L I E N C Y “I have a caring relationship with an adult.””
Being able to cope well with challenges and bounce back from difficult times
MY R E S I L I E N C Y CHECKLIST
“I have a caring relationship with an adult.””

25. National Sleep Foundation

28. Resources
TDSB Professional Support Services
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
Reaching In – Reaching Out – Promoting Resiliency in Children – a Parent Resource
The ABCs of Mental Health – A Parent Resource
Bounce Back 2nd Edition – Available at

29. Donna Quan Director of Education TDSB
“Student mental health and well-being impacts everyone and belongs to each of us.”
Donna Quan Director of Education TDSB