The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, July 26, 2012 · 54 School board to promote student mental health By Tim Whitnell METROLAND MEDIA WEST Whether due to the stress of exams or school in general, problems with peer relationships or trouble at home, the number of students with mental health challenges is on the rise, and the Halton Catholic District School Board says it wants to do more to help. In October 2011, the Board of Trustees adopted the Student Mental Health Policy to reaffirm its commitment to addressing the mental and emotional well-being of its students. In January 2012, the board's newly-formed Mental Health Leadership Team met for the first time. It is a group of 10, consisting of the board's Health Oakville Beaver Buy 1, Get 1 Free (1st Visit) Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reflexology * Back/ Neck Pain · Tension / Muscles Spasm · Headache / Whiplash · Sciatica · Pregnancy-related Reflexology Relief Rehab Relax * Joints Pain / Arthritis · Elbow, Wrist, Frozen shoulder · Knee, Ankle · Osteoarthritis · Rheumatoid Arthritis * Sports / Work place Injuries · Acute / Chronic · Sprain / Muscles Tears * Chronic Disease · Stress / Anxiety / Depression · Sleeping Trouble · HBP (High Blood Pressure) · Heart Failure / Chest Pain · Diabetes / Edema (Swelling) · Weight disorder 1395 Abbeywood Drive, Unit 14. Oakville, ON Unit L6M 3B2 1395 Abbeywood Drive, 14, Oakville 905·827 ·9968 Tel: 905-827-9968 | Email: mingrmt@hotmail.com M.C.I., C.S.A., T.E.P. M.C.I., C.P.C.A., RON ROUSSEAUX · Financial · Tax · Retirement · Estate Planner chief social worker, chief of psychological services, a principal, a vice-principal, an assistant superintendent, a curriculum consultant, two teachers, a student and a parent. The core team has been meeting monthly. It updated trustees on progress at the last board meeting of the school year. The goal of the board's new policy is to promote mental health awareness and reduce social stigma, provide prevention strategies and determine appropriate intervention services for students, at the board level and in the community in conjunction with social service organizations. The board leadership team will oversee the development and implementation of materials and resources to build knowledge and assist with the navigation and access of community and board resources. "Whenever a student comes forward (for help) a file is opened," said Patricia Codner, the Halton Catholic board's chief social worker, who is also co-chair of the board's Mental Health Leadership Team. "Our caseloads have grown exponentially," she said, noting anxiety "is a very common thing" among students, as is depression. The board says it does not have firm statistics on the number of students who seek help but Codner said the new mental health policy will "develop a tool to better track the data." The board added a full-time social worker last year and now has seven, plus Codner. Other in-school teams, such as Child and Youth Counsellors (CYC) and Special Education Resource Teachers (SERT), are already part of the board's overall academic/mental health strategy. Depending on the nature of a student's problem, it can be handled at the school level in a one-on-one or group setting or the individual could be referred for assistance outside the board. "We try to do relationship building with peers and teachers," said Codner. "We always try to encourage peer-to-student (contact) because we know young people learn HCDSB Mental Health Leadership Team · Patricia Codner, chief social worker (co-chair) · David DeSantis, assistant superintendent of education · Oliver Foese, chief of psychological services (co-chair) · Susan Guzzo, elementary principal · Stephanie MacLeod, elementary teacher · Jane Mauth-Arseneault, special education itinerant · Marjorie McArthur, secondary school vice-principal · Elle Mega-Malon, student · Barbara O'Connor, curriculum consultant · Michelle Sparling, parent from other young people better. Peer-to-peer mentoring can be very effective," she added. The school board says its chief partner for external social services, when required, is the Burlington-based Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK). In response to feedback received from students and staff, the Mental Health Leadership Team is developing a plan for board-wide activities designed to promote mental health awareness, which will take place in May 2013. A page on the board's website dedicated to mental health will be developed as a tool to increase awareness in the Halton Catholic school community. "Recognizing the significant role of parents in the successful implementation of this strategy, the team will continue its work to develop a specific strategy to further encourage and support parent engagement," stated a June 19 school board report from the team. RON ROUSSEAUX Today & Tomorrow Financial Planning Inc. THANK YOU Oakville for nominating us again as BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER Is It Time To Come Out Of The Casino? Next seminar being held on August 16th -- Call to reserve your seat. and the staff of Town launches campaign to promote concussion awareness in sport/recreation The Town of Oakville is encouraging children and youth to play safe by launching a special Concussion Awareness campaign. According to the Canadian Public Health Agency more than 40 per cent of brain injuries in young people occur during sport and recreation activities. The campaign seeks to stop these types of injuries from happening in Oakville through awareness and prevention education targeting local sports organizations and their coaches. As part of the campaign, the Town will be hosting public information sessions with sports organizations to educate them about concussion symptoms and signs, prevention tips, and other information specific to head injuries. To book a session, contact Monica Sulej, Make Your Move program co-ordinator at 905-845-6601, ext. 3896 or msulej@oakville.ca. This initiative was funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport Healthy Communities Fund Grant and developed as part of Make Your Move Oakville -- the Town's public education and awareness program to promote the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles. The pamphlet is available at all community centres and libraries or at www.oakville.ca. Celebrating our 19th Anniversary Fully Independent-Backed by Strength Can I Build A Financial Plan or Portfolio For You? Phone: 905-336-9941 Fax: 905-336-7741 Web: www.todaytomorrow.com