The document discusses leading mentally healthy schools. It defines mental health and mental illness, noting that mental health problems can negatively impact student well-being and functioning. Examples of mental illnesses are provided. The document discusses achieving optimal mental health with or without mental illness. It outlines TVDSB's strategic mental health plan and goals to create stigma-free, staff capacity building, and mentally healthy learning environments. Characteristics of mentally healthy schools are discussed, and a case study on accommodating a student receiving medical treatment is presented. The importance of staff wellness is covered, and mental health resources are provided.

1. Leading Mentally Healthy
Schools
Administrator sessions
Gail Lalonde - Mental Health Lead, TVDSB
Glen Woodburn - School administrator, TVDSB

2. What is mental health?

3. What is mental illness?

4. What’s in a name?
What does mental health even mean?

6. “Mental health problems are emotional, behavioural,
and brain-related difficulties that may have a negative
impact on the students’ well-being and interfere with
their functioning at school, at home, in the community,
and in social settings. Development, school attendance,
academic achievement and relationships with family
and friends may be affected”
Leading Mentally Healthy Schools, 2013
Mental Health Problems

7. Mental illnesses are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood
or behaviour associated with significant distress and impaired
functioning. Examples include:
■Mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder)
■Schizophrenia
■Anxiety disorders
■Personality disorders
■Eating disorders
■Problem gambling
■Substance dependency
Public health agency of Canada, www.phsc-aspc.gc.ca
Mental Illness or Psychiatric Disorder

8. Optimal mental
health with
mental illness
Optimal mental
health without
mental illness
Poor mental
health with
mental illness
Poor mental health
without a mental
illness

9. Achieving Excellence
Well-Being Strand
Renewed goals for education
1. Achieving Excellence
2. Ensuring Equity
3. Promoting Well-Being
4. Enhancing Public Confidence

10. TVDSB Strategic Mental Health Plan

11. Every school within the Thames
Valley Board will be a mentally
healthy school
TVDSB Strategic Vision

12. TVDSB Goals
 Stigma Free Learning environments
 Building Staff Capacity
 Promoting Mental Health & Wellness

13.  What does this mean to you?
 How would you know that a school was mentally healthy?
 What would distinguish it from other buildings?
 What would be happening in a mentally healthy school?
 What does it look like, sound like, feel like?
 What is an administrator doing differently in their
building in leading a mentally healthy school?
What is a Mentally Healthy School?

16. Leading Mentally Healthy Schools, p.28

17. http://youtu.be/Ec0h1LRdcL8

18. • Student under doctor’s care
• Will miss approximately ½ day/week for
medical treatment (for at least the next two
months)
• No obvious physical limitations (student is
mobile)
Case Study

19. • Depending on severity of the side effects of the
treatment, student may also be absent for the
remainder of the day and following day
 Common side effects of treatment include dizziness,
nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, foggy thinking,
memory difficulties
Case Study Cont’d

20. • How do you plan for this student?
• How do you accommodate academically
knowing they will miss at least ½
day/week ?
Case study questions

21. • Does it matter what the diagnosis is?
• Would your commitment to
accommodating the student’s needs
change if it was a physical health
problem vs. a mental health problem?
Bias reflection

22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVZCnotBi4
Staff Wellness

23. Research suggests educators experience
more stress than many other professions.
This is especially true with a large
proportion of students with high mental
health needs
 Leading Mentally Healthy Schools, p. 88
Stress and burnout

24. Table Discussion

25.  Leading Mentally Healthy Schools
 Supporting Minds
 Classroom Strategies for Supporting Students
with Mental Health Concern
 School Mental Health Assist
 Understand Me: TVDSB Strategic Mental
Health Plan
Resources

26. The Power of Positive Self-Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg

27. Thank you!