Mental Health Liaison Nurses in Halton Schools

Halton Region Health Department Mission Statement: Together with the Halton Community, the Health Department works to achieve the best possible health for all. In support of this we are committed to: Provide professional service based on changing community needs, best practice, current research and evaluation. Develop and deliver high quality programs and services that are accessible, relevant, timely and cost effective. Strengthen individual and community supports to reduce or eliminate health risk. Promote and support local & global healthy public policy. Assist or partner with individuals and groups to develop and use their community resources. Respect diversity, promote and practice inclusion. Advocate for vulnerable individuals and groups. April-22-19

History – MHLN in Halton Schools High School 1970s in response to identified need 1 MHLN → 3.6 MHLN currently Senior Elementary 2002 in Burlington 2005 in Oakville 2008 in North Halton April-22-19

MHLN Role With Youth To identify, early on, youth who present with mental health problems and / or psychiatric symptoms. To link youth to appropriate resources. To prevent worsening of the youth’s condition through counselling, monitoring, and linking with appropriate resources. April-22-19

MHLN Role With Other Stakeholders To provide accessible consultation to school staff, families, students, and community members. To provide clinical back up and clinical consultation to Youth Net/TAMI groups and facilitators. To work with the school community and community at large on mental health issues. April-22-19

Youth Presentation Student issues identified were categorized as: behavioural (aggression, anger management, stealing, lying, manipulation, school avoidance, defiance); mood related (depression, anxiety, distorted thinking); motivational (school performance); social (lack of social skills, poor peer relationships, low self esteem) and family issues (stress, mental illness, addictions, family breakdown, custody, abuse, early trauma). April-22-19

The Basics Secondary School Elementary School 3.6 FTE allocated across the secondary schools in Halton Youth Net program clinical support Elementary School 3.0 FTE allocated to Burlington, Oakville, North Halton elementary schools Focus on grades 6 – 8 Collaboration with ROCK Walk In clinics and anxiety group April-22-19

How Does This Work – High Schools 6 – 7 schools assigned/MHLN Independent of the school teams Attend SRT for related discussions Accept referrals from SRT, student services, youth, parents, physicians, other agencies, hospital Participate in Threat Risk Assessment Team April-22-19

High Schools See youth on school site or off site for 6 – 8 sessions Parent consent is not required but always encouraged Consent to share info with school is encouraged Confidentiality is respected within boundaries April-22-19

Elementary School 2 models: Referral process for non-assigned schools BAT team membership Assigned schools Referral process for non-assigned schools Parent consent is required – school facilitate signed consent April-22-19

Who are the MHLN's? Public Health Nurses Additional education or experience working in adult or child/youth psychiatry Youth and systems friendly Flexible Relationship based approach April-22-19

How do we really work? Receive referral Access collateral information Meet with student – establish relationship Perform MSE Decide with student approach we will take Work with: counseling, education, CBT Advocate Refer Crisis assessment and intervention April-22-19

Statistics Counseling sessions 1:1 - 1550 to 1600 Consultations with parents - 330 to 350 Consultations with professionals - 400 to 450 SRT attendance – 80 meetings average annual prior to intro of MHLN for North Elementary April-22-19

Key Success Factors Relationships School personnel Board personnel Youth Families School PHNs Other key supports for youth Other agencies April-22-19

Key Success Factors Communication Collaboration Flexibility Respect Willingness to have the tough dialogues Collaboration Flexibility Problem solving in an ‘out of the box’ kind of way Respect For people For youth For systems and their requirements April-22-19

Questions? Contact information: Michele Singleton Email: Michele.Singleton@Halton.ca Telephone: 1-866-442-5866 April-22-19