Photo credit: Province of British Columbia - Flickr© https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
The Government of British Columbia and community partners are
supporting a two-year project at Mountainside Secondary school, to
expand classroom-to-community mental health and addictions connections
in the North Vancouver School District (NVSD).
The project,
supported by $225,000 in provincial funding, will build on Mountainside
Secondary school’s mental health and addictions hub and community
partnerships. It will do so by looking at the structural elements of the
hub that could extend beyond Mountainside. This allows other schools in
the district similar access to integrated mental health and addictions
supports and services. The project is scheduled to run from September
2018 to September 2020.
“The best way to reach young people with
mental health and addictions supports is to bring those services to them
— to schools, where they spend most of their time," said Judy Darcy,
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “That is why innovative
programs, like the one we are supporting today at Mountainside, are
going to be so important to our mental health and addictions strategy.
This is how we connect young people to services and work toward a
seamless system of treatment for youth, where you ask for help once and
you get help fast.”
Funding will support a dedicated staff member
for the project, as well as administration and training resources, and
research and data collection. It will help to build and refine a
continuum of support for students that extends from the classroom to
mental health and addictions supports, and services provided by agencies
at the community level.
“We know that too few students are
accessing mental-health supports, and many of them are waiting until
they are 17 or older, when their symptoms worsen,” said Katrine Conroy,
Minister of Children and Family Development. “This project focuses on
preventing mental-health challenges before they begin, and addressing
issues that do come up as soon as possible, to make sure all students
between the ages of five to 17 can get the help they need and deserve.”
The
project builds on both the work of the NVSD to better align
mental-health and addictions supports in schools, and the success of the
Foundry model, where youth and young adults have access to all of the
mental health and addictions services they need under one roof.
As
well, the project will support the vision of the ministries of Mental
Health and Addictions, Education, Health, and Children and Family
Development, for increased mental health and addictions supports through
B.C. schools, with a focus on social emotional learning (SEL) skills
and positive mental-health training.
“We know the importance of
social-emotional learning and mental well-being on students’ success in
school,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “Our government is
committed to building a better system of mental-health supports in
schools across B.C., and the investment in this unique program is a
great example of what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Throughout
the project, community partners will work together and share their
understanding of SEL to ensure a consistent approach at both the school
and community level. Highlighting important developmental and
preventative roles that schools and educators play in connecting young
people to mental health and addictions resources will also be a focus
throughout the two-year project.
“Our board has worked closely
with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to have this funding
approved, and are thrilled that this project has come to fruition,” said
Christie Sacré, chairperson, North Vancouver Board of Education.
“Through classroom-to-community connections, students will be able to
have their mental-health needs addressed, and in doing so, promote good
mental health and student well-being. On behalf of the board, I would
like to thank the ministry, our partner groups, and the community for
their support, as we move forward with this project.”
“On behalf
of the North Vancouver School District, I would like to thank the
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions for the funding of $225,000, to
pilot a two-year project that will integrate mental-health support in
schools, building student resiliency, with a specific focus on teaching
of social emotional skills,” said Pius Ryan, assistant superintendent
with the North Vancouver School District. “By creating a clear and
direct path through the school system to mental health and addictions
supports and services in the community, students in the NVSD will be
able to access the resources they need to help them with their unique
circumstances, such as anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, or other
mental health or addictions challenges.”
In the long term, the
partnerships and connections nurtured through the project will assist
the NVSD to explore the next steps to expand and enhance service
delivery across the district. The project will also be evaluated to
determine its effectiveness and potential to be expanded to other school
districts in B.C.
“Funding for this initiative will assist more
students and various age groups across the North Vancouver School
District. This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Elysia
Delgarno, a Grade 12 student from Mountainside Secondary. “I am pleased
that the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is leading the way
for a brighter future, and making a difference in our lives. The
positive impact will be felt way into adulthood.”
Learn More:
To learn more about the social emotional learning and positive mental health project in the NVSD, visit: http://www.sd44.ca/school/mountainside/Pages/default.aspx
Foundry North Shore: https://foundrybc.ca/northshore/
Click here to read the original News Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018MMHA0033-001176