Positive Mental Health in Schools Daneen Dymond Materials provided have been Developed and Promoted by Dr. Bill Morrison and Dr. Patricia Peterson

Mental Health & Mental Fitness Professional Development Presented by Daneen Dymond Today’s Session Common Myths about Mental Health Rationale for Positive Mental Health Environments What is Mental Fitness?? The Paradigm Shift – What can School’s Do?? Positive Mental Health Tool Kit How is YOUR school doing? Inventory Checklist  MINDFULLNESS in the CLASSROOM

Think About…. Mental Health in Schools A time in your own life when you were struggling in school – could be socially, emotionally, academically, etc Who reached out and supported you? What could have been done differently to decrease your stress/anxiety? Were there programs/people in place to help increase your engagement and connection with the school?

Common Myths About Mental Health Concerns Mental health concerns affect only a few people. Mental Health concerns are common. At any one time, one in five individuals may experience some level of concern related to mental health. Mental health concerns affect people of all ages, education and income levels, and cultures. Mental health concerns are caused by a personal weakness. Mental health concerns are not character flaws. They are caused by genetic, biological, social and environmental factors. Seeking and accepting help is a sign of strength.

Mental Illness: Myth or Fact? Students with mental health concerns never get better. With the right kind of help and support, most people recover or adapt, and lead healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Teachers are not “equipped” to work with students with mental health concerns. The greatest barriers to support are fear and misperceptions regarding mental health concerns. Teachers are in a key position to make a positive difference in the lives of students living with mental health issues.

Rationale for Positive Mental Health Environments 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder. Approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode. The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million. Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world. Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents. Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada. In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them. (Health Canada Research)

Potential Signs of Stress or Mental Health Concerns Overtired: If a student isn’t well rested it will affect their academic performance. They may seem sluggish or disinterested in their work. Showing signs of isolation: Are they engaged with school and social activities? Are they interacting well with their peers? Showing a lack of focus: Do they seem to be struggling to complete or stay focused on tasks? Less responsible: Are they frequently late? Making uncharacteristic mistakes? Physical changes: Has the student recently lost or gained a noticeable amount of weight? WHAT CAN WE DO????? Understand and Introduce MENTAL FITNESS 

What is Mental Fitness???? Mental fitness is a state of psychological well-being derived from our thoughts and emotions, and is based on: 1) Relatedness - our need to belong 2) Competency - Recognized for our strengths and positive qualities 3) Autonomy - freedom to make choices (Deci and Ryan, 2007) When your needs for respect, inclusion and recognition are met, the conditions are right for YOU to be at your best  We all have a role to play in fostering Mental Fitness in ourselves, in others and at our workplaces.

Traditional Approaches to Mental Health Care Mental health programs and services within the health, school, and community settings have often focused on addressing concerns related to the psychological well-being of individuals, children and youth through: The identification/screening of risk-need factors The delivery of intervention and support services Traditionally, we work “after the fact” – reactive approaches to mental health, as opposed to making proactive, environmental changes

Positive Mental Health Recent research across health and educational domains assert the importance of including a positive view of mental health. PMH involves the recognition that an individual’s state of psychological well-being is: Not only influenced by the absence of problems and risk-need concerns… But also impacted by the existence of positive factors present within individuals and their social settings that contribute to positive growth and development.

Paradigm Shift Resilience! Positive Mental Health in Schools The emergence of positive mental health perspectives has shifted the focus of educators from a preoccupation with risk and need to the enhancement of positive qualities. Such qualities or factors may include: positive individual traits positive personal experiences initiatives/programs that assist in: enhancing quality of life preventing or reducing the risk of developing mental health-related concerns Resilience!

Schools are a Critical Setting for Positive Mental Health Promotion Schools should focus on enhancing protective factors that contribute to the social-emotional growth of TEACHERS, STAFF & STUDENTS while decreasing specific risk factors that impede psychosocial development. ** Schools as a Setting for Promoting Positive Mental Health – 2nd edition released Jan 2014, Dr. Morrison & Dr. Peterson Teachers spend 8 hours daily & Over 180 days a year in their schools!!!! 2nd edition released in January 2014 This book researched practices for supporting PMH in schools, and formed the basis for the development of the Toolkit

Positive Mental Health Toolkit What can Teachers and WELLNESS REPS do in the school to promote and embed Positive Mental Health? ? Introducing the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health Positive Mental Health Toolkit developed by Dr. William Morrison and Dr. Patricia Peterson http://www.jcshpositivementalhealthtoolkit.com/

Mindfulness Training - A state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience. - Stressful Teens Program (Gina Biegal)

Mindfulness Training POWER of Mindfulness Neurobiology research points towards significant potential benefits for everyone, including teachers and students - Gina Biegal, 2012

Let’s put it into ACTION!!!! Here is an actual activity you can do within your day or with your students when you need a mental “break”. You could also start your school day or end your school day with this type of activity. Make it part of your daily plan

THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK!!!!!  Please Contact me for further information or questions – daneen.dymond@nbed.nb.ca