PEMBROKE – The Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) recognizes mental health and well-being as essential to student success.
To help foster this positive state amongst the student population, the RCDSB has recently published Promoting and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being: A Three-Year Strategy. This publication is a very detailed blue print providing vision and planning for leading effective school mental health and well-being.
The 48-page document, which also has an accompanying action plan, was created by the RCDSB District Mental Health Leadership Team led by RCDSB Mental Health Leader Lisa LaRiviere.
“While mental health and well-being has always been an integral part of the RCDSB school culture, the Mental Health and Well-Being strategy provides a foundation for developing the organizational conditions, capacity building and focus on evidence based and informed practice,” Ms. LaRiviere said. “The RCDSB values mental health and well-being as critical to learning, achievement and student success. The vision is for the mental health and well-being of all individuals in the school community to be promoted and supported through caring relationships and resources that nurture the development of healthy minds, compassionate hearts and resilience.”
Through the leadership of the RCDSB Mental Health Team, the strategy is informed by data collected from district leaders, school administrators, school staff and secondary students us¬ing a combination of surveys and focus groups.
The RCDSB school priorities were identified through board data showing anxiety, depression and social relationships as the most significant areas to begin addressing the mental health needs of students within the RCDSB.
“The strategy recognizes the need to invest in the human capacity within each student and staff as an intrinsic resource to improve the overall culture and environment for supporting a whole system approach to fostering positive student outcomes in mental health, academic achievement and school success,” Ms. LaRiviere said.
The strategy uses a tiered model that promotes well-being for all; prevention and intervention for students; and clear pathways to support for students, staff, parents and families.
Collaboration among the school, home and community is designed to foster engagement in cultivating mentally healthy school communities.
Promoting and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being: A Three-Year Strategy is available on the board’s website at www.rcdsb.on.ca.
