Building Capacity Implementing Evidence Based Programing and Support Strengthening Organizational Conditions Supporting Mental Health and Well- being Communicating and Collaborating with Partners Identifying children at risk and Intervening Early DSB Ontario North East Mental Health Strategy

DSB Ontario North East Mental Health Strategy Mission: Together we create safe, inclusive, caring and supportive environments that enhance as well as promote mental health and well-being. Vision: DSB Ontario North East believes that mental health is key to student success and well-being.

STRATEGY OBJECTIVES Increase awareness that student engagement and achievement is contingent upon student mental health and well-being. Deliver school-based mental health and well- being programs. Integrate service delivery within a caring, safe, inclusive and supportive environment. Involve all stakeholders from teachers to students, parents, senior administration and support staff, as well as community partners.

BACKGROUND 1 Organizational Conditions 2 Capacity Building 3 School Mental Health Programming and Support Our strategy was developed to improve the mental health and well-being of students within the board and includes three core elements:

Core Elements of Strategy – Organizational Conditions Organizational Conditions Mental Health Vision Mental Health Strategy Alignment with Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy Embed strategy in BIPSA Clarifying Mental Health Team roles and structures Performance Indicators for Mental Health Team Suicide protocols, guidelines and templates Mental Health and Addictions survey Communication Strategy Community Partnerships

Core Elements of Strategy – Capacity Building Mental Health AwarenessMental Health LiteracyMental Health Expertise Basic mental health information, tailored for different school board audiences Deeper working knowledge for those who have a direct role in supporting student mental health (creating mentally healthy schools & classrooms, recognizing early signs of difficulty) Skills and knowledge for SMH professionals to effectively provide evidence-based promotion, prevention, and intervention ALLSOMEFEW Capacity Building is not an event! It is an iterative deepening of knowledge that is embedded in school board life. It takes time.

Core Elements of Strategy – School Mental Health Programming and Support This element incorporates a tiered framework of intervention Tier 1 We can promote mental health and well-being for all students Tier 2 We can help identify some students as at risk for developing problems, and provide targeted skill- building and referral to mental health supports Tier 3 With help from other board and community professionals, we can help identify and support the few students who require intensive mental health intervention beyond what schools can provide

Core Elements of Strategy – School Mental Health Programming and Support For All: Universal Mental Health Promotion Support positive mental health for all students in our day-to-day work Be caring adults in our students’ lives Use research-based school & classroom strategies that promote positive mental health (ex. Restorative Practices) Focus on problems such as bullying, playground conflict, stress, nutrition, etc. Integrate social emotional learning (SEL) strategies to teach core competencies Visit the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

Core Elements of Strategy – School Mental Health Programming and Support For Some: Additional Classroom Support Learn to identify “at-risk” students and provide them with targeted classroom strategies for problems such as: – anxiety – temper tantrums – aggression – sadness, pessimism or negativity – defiance or other conduct issues Consult with your School Mental Health Team and/or see Supporting Minds for ideas!

Core Elements of Strategy – School Mental Health Programming and Support For Few: Intensive Services Schools are ideally suited to identify students requiring intensive mental health services Once identified, the Mental Health Team can provide monitoring and liaison services that triangulate students with the school and community service agencies.

School Mental Health Programming and Support – Think in Tiers Tier 1 - All (caring classrooms, mental health promotion, social-emotional learning instruction, stigma reduction) Tier 2 - Some (Targeted prevention) Tier 3 Few Our focus is to create mentally healthy environments for students and to build skills amongst students who are vulnerable through prevention programming delivered collaboratively by teachers and our Mental Health Team Clinical intervention for students with mental illness will occur largely in partnership with community and health settings. Our Mental Health Team will provide the liaison service that triangulates the student with the school and our partners

System of Care Mental Health Promotion Prevention Intervention Clinical Intervention Prevention Promotion Community School Districts

DSB ONTARIO NORTH EAST Mental Health and Addictions Steering Committee Members Jo-Anne PlauntSuperintendent of Education Denise Plante-DupuisMental Health Leader Joanne Marsh-PetersDistrict Special Education Resource Teacher / Parent Sabrina SwannDistrict Social Worker and ABA Coordinator Paul LangisSecondary School Principal Lynn McNaughtonVice-Principal Student Success and Curriculum – Elementary School Susi JohansonSecondary School Principal / Parent Keri ShepherdsonElementary School Principal / Equity and Inclusivity / Parent Jamie DaveyAboriginal Youth Liaison Officer Sue HolmesHuman Resources / Parent Lana KershawChild and Youth Worker Dennis DravesTrustee

THANK YOU! We hope that you found this a useful introduction to our Mental Health Strategy. A full version can be found on our website under the Mental Health and Well-being tab. Should you have questions, your Mental Health Leader is available to provide ongoing support and leadership to your school team.