goals for this session To provide a provincial context for school mental health To encourage a shared understanding of the role of schools in supporting student mental health & well-being To introduce a new resource for School Administrators in Ontario School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Session outline Provincial Context Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy School Mental Health ASSIST Student Mental Health and Well-Being Student Mental Health and Well-Being Basics The Role of Schools Introducing Leading Mentally Healthy Schools: A Resource for School Administrators The Role of School Leaders in Supporting Student Mental Health and Well-Being School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

The provincial context for school mental health Section 1 The provincial context for school mental health School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

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 http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/mental/pdf/open_minds_healthy_minds_en.pdf School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Overall Aim “ … to reduce the burden of mental illness and addictions by ensuring that all Ontarians have timely access to an integrated system of excellent, coordinated and efficient promotion, prevention, early intervention, community support and treatment programs.” School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Overarching Goals To improve the mental health and well-being of all Ontarians; To support the creation of healthy, resilient and inclusive communities; To identify mental health and addiction problems early and intervene; To provide timely, high quality, integrated, person-directed health and human services. School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

The First Three Years The Strategy focuses on children & youth in the first three years. There are three key targets: Fast access to high-quality services Early identification and support Help for vulnerable children/youth with unique needs School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

OVERVIEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS STRATEGY - FIRST 3 YEARS Starting with Child and Youth Mental Health Our Vision: An Ontario in which children and youth mental health is recognized as a key determinant of overall health and well-being, and where children and youth reach their full potential. Provide fast access to high quality service Kids and families will know where to go to get what they need and services will be available to respond in a timely way. Identify and intervene in kids’ mental health needs early Professionals in community-based child and youth mental health agencies and teachers will learn how to identify and respond to the mental health needs of kids. Close critical service gaps for vulnerable kids, kids in key transitions, and those in remote communities Kids will receive the type of specialized service they need and it will be culturally appropriate THEMES INDICATORS Reduced child and youth suicides/suicide attempts Educational progress (EQAO) Fewer school suspensions and/or expulsions Decrease in severity of mental health issues through treatment Decrease in inpatient admission rates for child and youth mental health Higher graduation rates More professionals trained to identify kids’ mental health needs Higher parent satisfaction in services received Fewer hospital (ER) admissions and readmissions for child and youth mental health Reduced Wait Times Provide designated mental health workers in schools Implement Working Together for Kids’ Mental Health Hire Nurse Practitioners for eating disorders program Improve service coordination for high needs kids, youth and families Implement standardized tools for outcomes and needs assessment Amend education curriculum to cover mental health promotion and address stigma Develop K-12 resource guide for educators Implement school mental health ASSIST program &mental health literacy provincially Enhance and expand Telepsychiatry model and services Provide support at key transition points Hire new Aboriginal workers Implement Aboriginal Mental Health Worker Training Program Create 18 service collaboratives Expand inpatient/outpatient services for child and youth eating disorders Reduce wait times for service, revise service contracting, standards, and reporting Funding to increase supply of child and youth mental health professionals Improve public access to service information Pilot Family Support Navigator model Y1 pilot Increase Youth Mental Health Court Workers Provide nurses in schools to support mental health services Implement Mental Health Leaders in selected School Boards Outcomes, indicators and development of scorecard Strategy Evaluation INITIATIVES 9 School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Ministry of Education Commitments To enhance the K to 12 Curriculum to more strongly feature student mental health To develop an Educator Guide to help educators to recognize and support students with mental health and addictions needs To hire Mental Health Leaders to support board mental health and addictions strategy development and implementation To provide implementation support via School Mental Health ASSIST School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

School Mental Health ASSIST is a provincial implementation support team designed to help Ontario school boards to promote student mental health and well-being, through leadership, practical resources and systematic research-based approaches to school mental health. School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

School Mental Health ASSIST Focuses On: Organizational Conditions for Effective School Mental Health Mental Health Capacity-Building for Educators Implementation of Evidence- Based Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Programming School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Strategy Cascade Province Board School Organizational Conditions Capacity Building Evidence-Based Programming Board School School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Background on student mental health and well-being Section 2 Background on student mental health and well-being School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Mental Health is… “A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” World Health Organization School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Mental Health Exists on a Continuum School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

What are mental health problems? Mental health problems are emotional, behavioural and brain- related disturbances that interfere with development, personal relationships, and functioning. Disturbances that are severe and persistent enough to cause significant symptoms, distress, and impairment in one or more areas of daily life are termed mental health disorders/mental illness School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Mental Health Problems include a Range of Difficulties Mental health problems are characterized by different signs and symptoms, and present in various forms Some mental health problems manifest outwardly (externalizing) Students appear aggressive, impulsive, coercive, non-compliant Some mental health problems manifest inwardly (internalizing) Students appear withdrawn, lonely, anxious, depressed School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Mental Health Problems are Common Roughly one in five students in Canadian schools struggle with a mental health problem that interferes with their day to day functioning. School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Facts and Figures Causes – Multiply determined (biological, life experiences, individual factors, early trauma) Onset - In 70% of cases, the onset of problems begins before age 18; with 50% of cases starting before 14 Comorbidity – If have one disorder, other problems are also likely (45% have > 1 mental health problem) Impact – Disturbances to academic progress, social well- being, isolation, despair, anger, heightened risk of suicide There is a clear relationship between mental health problems and academic achievement School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Mental Health Problems are Treatable Proven strategies and supports Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments are most common, and are often used together While many mental disorders are chronic, we can help with coping Early identification and intervention improves prognosis School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Barriers to Accessing Services Unfortunately, up to 80% of students with mental health needs will not access appropriate support Barriers to such access include: Stigma associated with mental health problems, Misidentification of symptoms, Adult lack of knowledge regarding where to seek help, Lack of sufficient services to meet demand. School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Schools Have a Unique Opportunity Schools are an optimal setting to: Reduce stigma Promote positive mental health Build student social-emotional learning skills Prevent mental health problems in high risk groups Identify students in need Build pathways to care School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Ways to Help… It is important to note that there is no expectation that educators become therapists, or that school boards duplicate the work of community mental health providers. Rather, educators can play a supporting role by: Creating caring schools and classrooms Building social/emotional learning skills Helping to identify students in need Many boards employ school mental health professionals (social workers, psychological consultants) who provide assessment and support for individual students in need, and help families to access additional treatment, when necessary. School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

K-12 Educator guide The Ministry has created Supporting Minds: An Educators’ Guide to Promoting Student Mental Health and Well-Being Designed to help educators to provide mentally healthy classroom environments, and to recognize when students are struggling with common mental health problems at school: Anxiety Problems Mood Problems Attention and Hyperactivity / Impulsivity Behaviour Problems Eating and Weight-Related Problems Substance Use Problems Gambling Self-Harm and Suicide School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

The School administrator’s Role School Administrators need to create the conditions to promote the mental health and well-being of all students In addition to setting the tone for a positive and welcoming school climate, this includes creating structures and processes that allow for appropriate skill development for all students, and early identification and support for those in need This includes attention to staff mental health capacity building and personal well-being School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

With professional learning and support, school administrators can: Help staff create mentally healthy classrooms, Create a school climate sensitive to the needs of vulnerable students, Recognize early signs of mental health problems, Select and facilitate appropriate student supports, Help students and families access needed services. School Administrators are ideally positioned to lead in enhancing student mental health.

Section 3 Introducing… Leading Mentally Healthy Schools: A Resource for School Administrators School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Leading Mentally Healthy schools In spring 2012, School Mental Health ASSIST recognized the need for a resource to support School Administrators A School Administrators Working Group was convened with the help of the: Minister’s Principal Reference Group Ontario Principal Associations Chief Psychologist and Social Work Associations This Working Group suggested the development of a “one stop” electronic resource for school administrators School Mental Health ASSIST is grateful for the high quality product that this working group produced! School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Development Timelines Dates Activity Summer 2012 Work Group drafts initial content Fall 2012 Content is formatted into an e-pub SMH ASSIST conducts a review and prepares a pilot version of the resource Spring 2013 Principals from 25 English and 5 French boards review the draft resource and provide suggestions for change Summer 2013 Feedback is incorporated into final version of resource Fall 2013 Leading Mentally Healthy Schools is released to all 72 Ontario school boards Regional sessions are conducted to deepen understanding of the material Activity School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools Table of contents Introduction Background on Student Mental Health and Well-Being Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy Strategies for Administrators Supporting Mental Health in Schools Tackling the Tough Issues in Schools

8 Broad Strategies Think in Tiers Set the Stage Connect the Dots Focus on the Positive Bring People Along Follow Familiar Planning Processes Enable Implementation Foster Collaboration School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Tackling the tough issues School Support for Some and Few Dealing with Mental Health Crises Managing Transitions Working with Parents when Mental Health Problems Arise Meaningful Student Engagement Talking with Students about Mental Health Self-Care Ideas School Mental Health ASSIST 2013

Next steps… Boards are invited to review Leading Mentally Healthy Schools Board Mental Health Teams will be invited to regional sessions to more deeply explore the School Administrator and Educator Guides Boards may offer in-depth sessions for school administrators on each of the 8 strategies introduced, and on tackling the tough issues School Mental Health ASSIST 2013