Dealing with mental health issues in Alberta schools
Posted Feb 1, 2011 3:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Health and education professionals from across the province have gathered in Calgary to share ideas and approaches to addressing mental health issues facing many Alberta students.
Cathy Price of Alberta Health Services says 39 jurisdictions in the province are involved in addressing mental health matters in schools, where she says teachers can be the first to notice issues with their students.
“Often they are in a position to identify children who might be struggling,” Price tells 660News at the “Connecting for Kids” symposium at the Sheraton Eau Claire, “who might be having some early signs of a mental health disorder or an addiction. And they can work with others to really improve the outcome for that child.”
Price adds this gathering gives teachers the tools for both prevention and intervention.
“How to connect with other partners on the health team, in the community, to really look at how they can intervene and support those children,” says Price, “because we can’t put this all on teachers. It really is a team approach.”
The symposium wraps up Wednesday.
The provincial initiative to address mental health in Alberta schools was launched in 2004.
