1 - Magnitude of the Problem
1. The Video Clip - Watch, Listen or Read
In this video, Dr. DiPasquale points out that with such vast numbers of young people with mental health problems, and those same young people also spending most of their day in school, there is pressure on teachers to help manage these issues while still supporting them to learn.
Select the desired media link below to watch the video, listen to the audio, or read the transcript.
Watch the Video
Listen to the Audio
Read The Transcript
2. Notes
Children and youth with mental health problems are also at very high risk for failure to learn and for dropping out of school. It is estimated that the current dropout rate due to untreated mental health disorders costs the Canadian gov-ernment about $2 billion dollars a year. When they grow up, some of these stu-dents will inevitably become involved with the legal system, and if incarcerated will cost the government approximately $120,000 each per year.
It is imperative that these students receive assistance as early as possible; school plays a key role in early intervention. But in the mid to late 1990s, school boards across Ontario and in many other provinces experienced significant cut-backs in funding for students with special needs. While this situation has eased in the last few years, school systems are still trying to recover from the loss of personnel and programs.
3. Discussion Question: Impact of Cutbacks?
Past provincial cutbacks resulted in many schools losing supports for students with mental health difficulties. What's the situation like in your school? Who do you turn to for help for your students? What resources are available?
Please post your observations, comments, and questions below.
I feel we are very lucky at our school as we currently have 9 EAs on staff. We also have 2 full-time Special Education Teachers. We receive counselling support for CPS and also the local Native Friendship Centre provides counselling support for our Section 23 classroom.
Being in a small community I feel that the services are great. Altough there aren't many EAs in the school I am working in, there are several teachers with the appropriate background to recognize where help is needed.
I feel that part of this problem is not just the cut-backs but also that teachers are reluctant to talk to students about mental health issues because they don't feel qualified to do so. If there was an elementary school counselor, for example, than the students AND teachers could benefit from that person's expertise; teacher's would have support in how to deal with these types of students and information would be more readily available about what community supports could be put in place.