Edmonton Catholic Schools Mental Health Strategic Plan: School Conversation Guides
How can your school implement a whole-school approach to create a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that supports the positive mental health of students? A whole-school approach recognizes that all aspects of the school community impact students’ mental health and well-being, and that learning and mental health are inextricably linked. Through a strength-based approach, schools can move their focus from the prevention of specific problems to a more positive, holistic view of child and youth development.
The Conversation Guides / Videos will allow you and your school staff the opportunity to further a conversation around how to support student mental health through a comprehensive, strengths based approach.
6 new videos and learning guides just added!
How can school staff support and nurture the protective factors for our students?
KEY UNDERSTANDINGS
-Brain development is formed by our communication and healthy interaction with others. While adverse experiences interrupt brain development and increases the risk for long-term negative physical and mental health problems. They can have a negative effect on learning, behavior and a student’s well-being.
-Brain research demonstrates that experiencing
nurturing and stable relationships is essential for healthy brain development.
-Risk factors for children affect their social-emotional well-being and can result from a lack of support,
isolation, loss and grief, exposure to abuse (substance, physical, psychological, sexual), poverty, abandonment and malnutrition. These types of
conditions can cause toxic stress, which can place the student at risk for success.
-Protective factors promote positive mental health and reduce risk for negative outcomes. These factors may include a positive support system, experiencing success in school, safety and security, access to basic needs, ability to solve problems and manage healthy stress.
-Be sensitive to the feelings of others because we may not be aware of what has occurred in their lives.
-As educators, we want to increase protective factors to help mitigate the risk factors in our student’s lives.
Length: 2:07
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