Shared commitment: the role of system leaders in supporting student mental health
System leaders establish the conditions for quality, consistency and sustainability in school mental health. The system leadership team creates the conditions for success so that mentally healthy environments and instruction can support and reach every student. Leadership commitment at the system and school level is a key factor that supports student mental health.
Leadership is a shared responsibility
As a system leader, it is important to understand that a focus on mental health and well-being is a key condition for students to learn and flourish. The system leadership team creates the conditions for success so that mentally healthy environments and instruction can reach every student. Leadership commitment makes a difference.
System leaders:
- are uniquely positioned to inspire purpose, hope, belonging and meaning through leadership commitment and daily actions
- commit to and embed a focus on identity-affirming mental health in their daily work in departments and with schools
- contribute to supportive environments for learning and systemic coherence as they inspire, activate and lead for uptake
- amplify the promotive and protective influences with intentional focus on identity-affirming mental health and well-being
- ensure the key conditions for learning and flourishing
- take an active role in the board’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy and Action Plan, shared leadership alongside a well-planned implementation process, support the conditions necessary for quality, consistency and sustainability
- weave together efforts in support of mental health, well-being, equity, reconciliation, special education, and safe and caring schools.
The Ontario Ministry of Education’s Policy/Program Memorandum 169 (PPM 169) outlines requirements for school boards and school authorities to provide culturally responsive, evidence-informed student mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention services that respect students as complex individuals and provide appropriate supports for their diverse needs. The memorandum outlines the importance of school boards working within the broader provincial system of care to help provide clear pathways to and from more intensive community and hospital-based mental health services, when needed.
“System and school leaders establish the conditions for quality, consistency and sustainability in school mental health.” (PPM 169)
Desk references for directors of education and supervisory officers
SMH-ON recognizes that, to achieve coherence for system leaders throughout the province, there is a need to inspire a shared commitment for student mental health.
The Desk Reference for Ontario Directors of Education and the Desk Reference for Ontario Supervisory Officers focus on four key areas:
- general information on what system leaders should know about the provincial context and how to bring alignment from the provincial mental health and addictions strategy to the board’s strategic plan
- how system leaders inspire and action intentional and explicit conversations at the senior table and scaffold engagement throughout the district
- ways that system leaders model and encourage belonging and connection to mental health and well-being as foundational to learning
- how system leaders model, support and encourage school leaders through effective communication and decision making about mental health resources (School Mental Health Decision Support Tool: Peer Support Initiatives – Version for System and School Leaders)
Governance matters – the role of trustees
Trustees have an important role in ensuring that the conditions for quality, consistency and sustainability are in place to support school mental health. The development of policies that ensure the effective support of the board’s three-year Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, in alignment with the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, promotes mentally healthy learning environments and instills public confidence.
Governance Matters is a reference guide developed for school board trustees/elected officials to highlight how governance matters in developing a shared commitment that prioritizes mental health and well-being.