School board mental health leadership teams meet to set directions for school mental health
The Spring Provincial Mental Health Leadership Meeting is set to be held virtually on May 12, 2022. The day provides an opportunity for school board mental health leadership teams to reconnect, learn about new data and research findings, and preview School Mental Health Ontario’s strategic directions and actions for school mental health in Ontario over the next three years. Student leadership and voice will be featured throughout the day.
Designed to bring together all mental health leaders, superintendents responsible for the mental health portfolio and managers of psychology and social work to establish directions for school mental health in the future; the day will include:
- highlights from the #HearNowON 2021 report, which gathered input from over 2,000 Ontario secondary students on building student engagement, learning and leadership in school mental health;
- an update of findings from Dr. Kathy Georgiades from the Offord Centre/ McMaster University on the ON:PATH study on child and youth mental health during the pandemic;
- words from the ThriveSMH Student Reference Group;
- reflections from Randell Adjei, Ontario’s first Poet Laureate;
- an overview of SMH-ON strategy, supports and services moving forward and;
- time for leadership teams to discuss ways to reflect the strategy in their local context
The SMH-ON Provincial Leadership Meeting provides a unique opportunity to connect as a provincial community of practice; to learn about the data sets, national/international research, and key voices that inform provincial directions in school mental health. More importantly, it is a chance to come together as leaders to consider the needs of students and the range of supports required as we move through this unique moment in time. Schools will have a critical role to play in supporting young people as we move through the pandemic and continue to feel its related impacts in coming months and years. Having a strong, consistent and responsive provincial approach to mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention in schools is foundational to meeting evolving student mental health needs.
Ontario school boards are showing leadership in this area, adopting a shared vision and strategy for the work ahead.