1. Making a Difference… An old man walked up a shore strewn with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a storm. A young girl was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean. "Why do you bother," the old man scoffed. "You're not saving enough to make a difference." The young girl picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water. "Made a difference to that one," she said.

2. Making a Difference: Supporting Student Mental Health in Schools Student Support Leadership Initiative Child and Youth Mental Health Information Network HWCDSB / HWDSB December 2009

3. Up to 80% of children will not receive treatment for mental health difficulties 1 in 5 children has a mental health problem depression anxiety ADHD disruptive behavior eating disorders But they are here, in our schools and classrooms… Feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and lack of support can result in suicidal behavior. 1 in 10 youth report having attempted suicide. If we knew how, we could help. We could make a difference.

4. There are many ways to Make a Difference Increasing educator mental health literacy is one important strategy for supporting student well-being An educator resource is one way to support mental health literacy in schools Communities across Ontario, across Canada, are exploring many ways to support educators as they try to promote positive mental health in schools.

5. Canadian Council on Learning, 2009 “Poor mental health in Canadian school children poses a significant risk to their academic development and puts them at greater risk of dropping out of school, substance abuse and suicide. Schools are well positioned to be at the vanguard of public health strategies designed to prevent and detect mental health disorders among young people.” A barrier to learning: Mental health disorders among Canadian youth

6. Mental Health Commission of Canada Consortium Lead - Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO 38 members, reaching over 60 networks, 4 teams Overall Objective Through a synthesis of the literature, a scan of Canadian programs / services, and a national survey, the Consortium will develop a broad framework and policy/practice recommendations related to SBMHSU in Canada. Timeline: Spring 2009 - Winter 2011 SBMHSU Consortium

7. Scanning the Practice Landscape in School-Based Mental Health Short, Ferguson, & Santor, 2009 http://www.onthepoint.ca/products/product_policypapers.htm

8. Importance of Mental Health to Achievement

9. Concern about Student Mental Health

10. Educator Preparedness

11. SBMH – Practices and Programs New area for most school districts Viewed as critical for moving forward Mostly at the stage of awareness-building in schools and boards (e.g., expert speakers, posters) Some boards are introducing educator mental health workshops, resources, student-based consultation services Mental Health Literacy

12. The Spectrum of SBMH in school boards

13. We need our Community Partners!

14. Targeted Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 1 Tier 2 Universal Targeted Clinical Schools Community Tier 3 Getting our Acts Together, 2009 Making a Difference is a Team Effort

15. Student Support Leadership Initiative  Community Mental Health Organizations  Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic DSB  Hamilton-Wentworth DSB Child and Youth Mental Health Information Network Making a Difference (Hamilton) is a Team Effort

16. The Educator Mental Health Resource Is new Is created from other Canadian guides Has been developed by local mental health professionals and educators Is designed to help you to make a difference for your students Needs your input so that it truly meets the needs of Ontario educators Will be shared across the province after the pilot

17. Together we can… Thank you for participating in the Making a Difference Educator Mental Health Resource Pilot!