HALIFAX – Teen mental health continues to be a growing concern among teachers in the Maritimes, with several saying they wish they had more training in how to deal with it.
On Monday, the Academy in School Mental Health conference got underway in Halifax.
The two-day conference includes keynote speeches each day on a variety of topics including youth suicide and bullying. There are also classroom sessions on how teachers and other educators can identify and deal with students who have anxiety, depression or who may inflict self-harm.
“I’m seeing everything from kids with severe anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder,” she said.
High school teacher Susan Whitty from Neil’s Harbour agrees that teachers do not have enough training in areas of teen mental health.
“Absolutely not. No. Any conference like this where we can get access to give us more tools in the classroom is great,” Whitty said.
- B.C. to ban drug use in all public places in major overhaul of decriminalization
- 3 women diagnosed with HIV after ‘vampire facials’ at unlicensed U.S. spa
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
- ‘Super lice’ are becoming more resistant to chemical shampoos. What to use instead
“Anxiety is really high right now with today’s youth and any tools I can have to help me with my job I think is great.”
Conference organizer and adolescent psychiatrist Stan Kutcher says that the conference is meant to be a resource for teachers who do not know where to turn to get more education and training on mental health issues.
“There has been a tremendous interest, an increased interest, in addressing mental health concerns for young people in the last five to ten years. We’re now struggling to keep up with the need,” Kutcher said.
Grade 8 teacher Erin Crowell, who teaches at Riverside Education Centre in West Hants, says she hopes the conference helps her better grasp the topic so she can take the lead in her classroom.
“I’m just hoping to get a better knowledge base of mental illness in general so that I can better teach the students and also identify any issues I might have in my classroom as well,” she said.
Kutcher says the goal of the conference is twofold: for participants to apply what they have learned in their classrooms and to become a resource for other educators.
“We have to realize all of us have a joint responsibility for improving the lives of kids and families,” she said.
Meanwhile, health professionals say early intervention is key to helping students.
Dr. Alexa Bagnell, a child and adolescent psychologist, says that youth are now dealing with higher stress levels and it’s important to teach students how to manage their stress. Bagnell ran a session called “Anxiety and stress management in schools: practical skills that can be applied in the classroom”.
“If it gets too high, it can actually really impact learning,” she said. “That can mean the difference between a student actually being able to attend school or not attend school, feeling good about themselves or not feeling good about themselves.”
Dr. Sue Zinck, also a child and adolescent psychiatrist, ran a session titled “Strategies for managing depressed students in the classroom”.
Zinck says that the average depressive episode can last nine months, which can be extremely detrimental for students during the school year.
“It can affect their relationship with their family, their friends and over time, there can be a downward spiral where they withdraw from school. There comes obviously problems with hopelessness and it can lead to self harm or even suicide.”
Zinck says teachers and educators are “on the front line” and more education and awareness is critical to keeping students on track.
The conference continues Tuesday.
Comments