After two years of social isolation for students due to the pandemic, local school boards say they are now better equipped to provide mental health support to those who need it.
Students across the country have been forced to endure two years of school closures and learning remotely from home due to COVID-19. With the majority of health restrictions lifted in Ontario ahead of the return to classrooms next week, many students require additional support as they adjust to the change.
The director of education with the Lambton-Kent District School Board, John Howitt, said several students have already been accessing the available mental health supports throughout the summer. He added that mental health professionals will continue to be available to help students with safe and positive transitions back to school.
“[We] have been offering a transition program for families who are making a transition either from remote learning back into the school system, or maybe going from Grade 8 to 9, or a change of schools, or [they’re] just nervous,” said Howitt.
Scott Johnson, the director of education with the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, said students have experienced considerable anxiety, concern, and fear over the last two years of the pandemic.
“Our eyes were opened to how much the learning restrictions in the past two years really impacted our students. And they didn’t impact all students equally. Some students from some backgrounds were far more disproportionately hurt than others,” said Johnson. “We have to now listen to each student’s perspective and understand how we can help them.”
Both school boards encouraged students and parents to discuss any mental health-related concerns with the board or with their school’s classroom teacher or principal.
“At the end of the day, any parent that is concerned about a student, their child, they simply need to communicate this with the school and the school will make a referral to our school-based mental health service team,” said Johnson.
Educators, students and parents are also encouraged to visit School Mental Health Ontario website for several helpful resources. The website can be found by clicking here.
