Best Practices to Support Mental Health for Children and Youth…Love, Empathy and Connection

Part 1 of a 4 Part Series

Submitted by: Stacey Hannay, HPEC Comprehensive School Health Representative

Have you ever wondered how to address mental health and related issues in your classroom without triggering students? As professionals, we are always striving to provide our students with safe and caring learning environments, and as our classrooms become more complex so do our students needs.  In this digital era we can find many pieces of literature to support our teaching practices, but not all provide us with strength-based approaches to dealing with mental health.  As a teacher-researcher for 20 years now, my classroom and the students in it have drastically changed, and I have found my teaching practice evolving sometimes faster than I can input information. In an attempt to provide you with some guidance on mental health and related issues, I would like to share the first of a 4 part series into the journey of “best practices”, exploring resources and tools to support mental health in your classroom that are clinical in nature and supported by the research that informs them.

I recently had an opportunity to sit with Priscilla Asamoah (MEd, RPC) from Alberta Health Services to discuss “best practices” for teachers’. As we opened up the dialogue between us, the question around which resources and tools would best serve teachers in their quests to promote safe and caring learning environments for students around mental health came to forefront of the conversation. Our first in a 4 part series begins with Love, Empathy and Connection: Supporting Mental Health. What is the research showing? The best predictor of a child or a youth’s mental health is having a loving and supportive caregiver in their lives. This is likely due to what scientists and child development specialists are calling attachment.

Mental Health Literacy Series: https://www.cyfcaregivereducation.ca/videos

Love, Empathy and Connection: Support for Mental Health

Caregiver Handout:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yVGR3y-NpfD6iUt9xqm6Xtsd3wmKbPN-/view

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl8tVCx91nE

Love, Empathy, and Connection will go a long way in supporting your students’ mental wellness. As a teacher and caregiver, you have one of the most important jobs in the world, however be aware that this is not solely your responsibility and there are always options for assistance if you are ever in need of some extra help. Listed below are some universal supports for professional development.

(MORE)Mental Health Online Resource for Educators:

https://more.hmhc.ca/resources/

Alberta Health Services:

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page4723.aspx

Life is a Journey, Let it Be Active - HPEC Annual Conference 2019 - Red Deer, Alberta - May 9-11, 2019

HPEC 2019 |  Life is a Journey, Let it Be Active

Register TODAY


Big or small, north or south, HPEC’s annual conference is always a high-quality PD event. This conference moves around the province to provide access to all of our valued HPEC members.


This year conference is in the central location of Red Deer. Come to learn and play with your HPEC Family!

Register today, Registration is LIVE here!  

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS ON FEBRUARY 15th!!

Pre-Conference Sessions are now available! Check out the sessions info below!

Building Intentional Connections 

School connectedness is increasingly recognized as a vital component of successful schools. The research is strong and consistent; students who feel connected to school do better academically and are healthier. Additionally, school culture is improved when staff members are cohesive and collaborative; staff are more effective when they are part of a team that is connected and strong. Come prepared to connect with Health and Wellness Champions from multiple districts to celebrate and share how you are creating connections within your school environment. Together we will explore and discuss how to build strong, positive relationships: among students, between students and school staff and between staff members. You will leave this session with new ideas, resources and meaningful examples of how to better connect the staff and students in your school. Let’s create some intentional connections and build healthier schools together!


Volleyball
Skill development is an important aspect in helping students better understand how to play volleyball. But reps are boring! Learn how to use modified games to teach the skills and to get more student involvement. Expect to be active in this session, the practical application will help you improve your volleyball knowledge and become a rock star in your league!!


Track & Field with Elisha O'Lain  

This session will take participants through basic Athletics (Track and Field) skill acquisition activities and progressions. Events within the three areas of Run (Sprints, Distance, Hurdles, Relay), Jump (Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump), and Throw (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin) will be included, however, the session will be directed by the specific requests and needs of the participants, regarding both event focus and division (Elementary, Middle, of High School). Elisha is an NCCP certified Level 3 club throws coach and holds NCCP level 2 technical certification in the disciples of Sprints and Hurdles, Jumps and Distance and is as Run, Jump, Throw training. She has been involved in coaching programs at a developmental level, such as the Head coach for the Dino Youth Track and Field Program, and as an instructor for the Athletics Canada Run, Jump, Throw School program as well as at a higher performance level including combined events coaching experience with Calgary Track and Field (CALTAF) and Dinos Athletics. NCCP#812170 @ https://thelocker.coach.ca/access/account/public As a Health and Physical Educator, Elisha has adapted the knowledge and skills learned as a club coach to develop learning activities that are effective in a school setting. To view an example of resources please visit https://sites.google.com/view/msolain/resources/visuals-resources?authuser=0

Ski, Skate, Slide
Ski, Skate and Slide is a new resource from Ever Active Schools to support teachers in being active supervisors on excursions in winter environments. The resource has been supported by facilities and sport organizations like Canyon Ski Area, where this pre-conference session will take place. Snow conditions permitting, we will be able to get out on the hill to ski and board in environments designed by the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance and other partners that schools and ski areas can use to keep students engaged and practicing following initial lessons from professional instructors. We will also try some activities you can do at your school in advance of winter trips to build student skill and confidence. With the right environment, you as the teacher don’t have to be an expert skier/snowboarder to participate and you’ll build your confidence to lead and give students appropriate challenges to try as they practice and refine their sliding skills. **Please note you will need to bring your own lunch and snacks. The lodge will not be providing food services during Pre Conference. **

Basketball with Clayton Pottinger 

This workshop will give you all of the tools you need to hit the court with confidence as a first-time children’s basketball coach.this in-class and on-court workshop will help you: · Understand the level of athlete you are coaching (typically children between the ages of 6-10); · Equip yourself with basic tools to plan safe, fun and effective practices; · Learn how to teach basic basketball skills from a games approach in a fun and inclusive way. WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS WORKSHOP? · Anyone with limited or basic basketball experience who wants to get involved at the community level to coach children’s basketball; · Parents/guardians volunteering with their child’s basketball program; · Coaches looking to transfer their coaching knowledge in order to acquire games approach drills and an understanding of this age group. · Assistant coaches that want to further their knowledge of basketball and contribute in building their athlete’s skills Certification Fee not included; this can be done via NCCP website; Clayton will provide instructions.