What is Mental Health? Additional Resources... Mental health “is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can DOCUMENTS: Leading Mentally cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a • Leading Mentally Healthy Schools: A Resource for School Administrators: contribution to their community”. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1dbQR3hKeHGRDRVVDVfTU45dWM/view World Health Organization, www.who.int • Supporting Minds: An Educators Guide to Promoting Students’ Mental Health and Well-being: Schools www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/SupportingMinds.pdf HEALTHY • School Mental Health Decision Support Tool: Student Mental Health Awareness Initiatives: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx9WOcdOlVzNYUpKaEx5TTNwamc/view

VIDEO LINKS:

• Promoting Mental Health: Finding a Shared Language: https://vimeo.com/130580621 • Howie Mandel talks about life with OCD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZNnz9SM4g • Michael Landsberg testimonial (depression): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWZUe-AxHbE • Mental Illness: What You See / What You Don’t See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sDdNa9vek • Emotions and the brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNY0AAUtH3g • Howie Mandel mental health vs. dental health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVZCnotBi4 • Stigma (car accident video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec0h1LRdcL8 • Stigma (CMHA): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BFFc4uKmRA • Stigma (CMHA): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud2jNtcwhJ8

Mental Health Dual Continuum Optimal Mental Health Helping students achieve...

Optimal Mental Health Optimal Mental Health WEBSITES: • School Mental Health ASSIST: www.smh-assist.ca with Mental Illness without Mental Illness “There is a clear relationship between student mental health problems and academic • Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health: www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca achievement. When students are preoccupied with emotional concerns, they cannot • Stress lesson toolkit: www.morethanmedication.ca/en/stress_lessons/insiders?educators participate fully in learning,” (LMHS, p.12). Serious Mental No Symptoms of • Canadian Mental Health Association: www.cmha.ca • Children’s Mental Health Ontario: www.kidsmentalhealth.ca Schools play an important role in a full system of care for students struggling with mental Illness Mental Illness health problems. This includes creating safe and caring school and classroom environments, • Anxiety BC: www.anxietybc.com enhancing social-emotional learning of students, and helping to identify students in need of • The ABC’s of Mental Health: www.hincksdellcrest.org/abc support (LMHS, p.13). Poor Mental Health Poor Mental Health • Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project: www.compassionfatigue.org with Mental Illness without Mental Illness • Not Myself Today: www.notmyselftoday.ca “There is an increasing awareness that schools can engage in specific strategies to build awareness and promote attitudes and behaviours that enhance mental health and • Mind Your Mind: http://mindyourmind.ca/ well-being,” (LMHS, p.37).

Poor Mental Health “We can help your school staff create mentally healthy classrooms, and be sensitive to the needs of students who are vulnerable.” (LMHS, p.10)

Adapted: Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. School Administrators are well-positioned to enhance the well-being of all our students every day, creating caring cultures and helping staff and students be their best (LMHS, p.9). For more information, The following video link is a helpful tool in introducing a common understanding contact your Board’s Mental Health Leader of mental health and well-being with staff:

PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH: Finding a Shared Language: https://vimeo.com/130580621 Aligned and TIER 3 - Essential for a Few The Foundation: Strategies for INTERVENE Intervention for a few Making Your Effort Stick Integrated Model Assessment and Leading Mentally AIM Treatment Services These few elements are key in promoting mentally healthy classrooms: School Mental Health and BRIDGE Mobilize board & community services TIER 2 - Necessary Healthy Schools Well-being 1 School administrator provides 4 Administrators and school staff for Some leadership and has explicit are aware of their own beliefs, SUPPORT Accommodation and mental heath and well-being perceptions and attitudes related to Modi cation Prevention for some PREVENT BOLSTER goals in the School’s well-being and mental health Targeted reduction Social emotional Supporting mental well-being at school is a complex and of risk factors skills and resiliency Improvement Plan important area of work for the school leader. These 8 STRATEGIES are designed to capture some key aspects NOTICE - Early Identi cation TIER 1 - 2 Mental health and well-being are 5 As good role models, administrators of the leader’s role, and to offer related guidance. Good for All part of a whole school approach and and school staff attend to their own WELL-BEING INCLUDE PROMOTE 8 PROMOTION Student Curriculum, Teaching aligned with the Board’s vision and self-care and wellness. FOR ALL Engagement and Learning WELCOME UNDERSTAND PARTNER strategy Social and Physical Well-Being Literacy Home, School, Environments and Knowing your Community 1. Think in Tiers Students Partnerships Adopt a tiered approach to supporting mental well-being in your school: universal promotion FOUNDATION - School and classroom leadership 3 In the school, there is a dedicated 6 Administrators and staff support well- tor ALL students, targeted skill development tor SOME students at higher risk, treatment for team or person on an existing team being intentionally, explicitly and your FEW most vulnerable students. who supports implementation and systematically as part of monitoring every day practice 2. Set the Stage One in five children and youth experience mental health problems, yet in Canada, Create the conditions in your school that allow for sustainable and effective practices, like only 20% of children and youth who need mental health services receives them. having a school team with responsibility for mental well-being and establishing in-school processes tor helping vulnerable students.

3. Connect the Dots Make the links with related initiatives in your school that support student well-being, like Safe and Accepting Schools, Healthy Schools, and Equity and Inclusive Education. Align work with Notes: your Board/School Improvement Plan! Setting ______Directions ______4. Focus on the Positive • Organizational conditions (system level) Mental health is a positive state! Keep the focus on well-being, rather than illness and System Leaders Board Improvement • Organizational culture ______disorder. Schools have a primary role in supporting mental health promotion. plan with focus on • Capacity building Mental Health & Well-Being • Modelling (self-care & staff well-being) ______5. Bring People Along ______Build staff capacity for supporting student well-being at school. Help them to create mentally healthy classrooms, and to understand their role as the eyes, ears, and hearts forstudents who School Leaders • Organizational conditions (school level) ______may struggle with emotional problems. School Improvement Plan • Capacity building with focus on Mental • School culture (LMHS) - relationships and ______Health & Well-Being connections 6. Follow Familiar Planning Processes • Modelling (self-care & staff well-being) ______Draw on familiar planning cycles to set and achieve your school mental well-being goals. ______This work can become a regular part of your school Improvement and school effectiveness processes. • Differentiated capacity-building by role ______PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING Educators and • Welcoming, supportive classroom culture 7. Enable Implementation ______School Staff • Social Emotional Learning Provide the needed time and coaching to bring school mental health plans to life. As in other Everyday practice that • Implementation of every day practices areas of work, a clear vision and action plan, with explicit responsibilities and timelines, can demonstrates Mental • Universal design ______Health & Well-Being • Differentiated instruction and help with execution. accommodation (Supporting Minds) ______• Learning for All - Tiered Intervention ______8. Foster Collaboration Work alongside board, community and family partners to promote seamless mental health service delivery. The school has an important role in the system of care, but must work closely LEADERSHIP AND RELATIONSHIPS with partners tor treatment and transition services.