MARATHON – Through an online district-wide survey conducted with elementary and secondary students, the Superior-Greenstone District School Board is taking action with the overwhelming results from students claiming that their schools need to make mental health and well-being a priority.
In response to the call from students, SGDSB has developed a three-year mental health and well-being strategy that will focus on interventions, support services, and proactive initiatives. The strategy aims to address the diverse needs of students and cultivate a culture of well-being throughout the district.
"We recognize that mental health is a critical component of student success and overall well-being. By developing this comprehensive strategy informed by our students' voices, we are committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every student can thrive," said SGDSB Director of Education Nicole Morden Cormier.
To support the new strategy, the board has announced they have hired a mental health data coordinator to facilitate implementing the strategy and engaging with students and staff.
Mental health manager Deana Renaud explained the data analysis performed by the mental health data coordinator was a huge part of the effort that went into creating the initiative.
"The mental health team continues the intentional work of developing the tiered approach of service provision. We are working diligently to understand the needs of students, families, and communities - to respond with great intention and care so that we can positively impact well-being and achievement.
“We will continue to collect data through multiple sources and focus on our essential relationships with community partners to guide our work in a holistic, responsive way. We strive to increase access to services for students and build understanding about the impact of positive mental health on student success and achievement,” Renaud added.
As part of the three-year strategy, the school board will focus on providing different levels of support from professionals, which includes multiple mental health workers, attendance counsellors, child and youth workers, an Indigenous mental health worker, and a mental health data coordinator.
The strategy is set to launch this spring.
