Teacher candidates prepare for children’s mental health issues in classroom

Teachers are not mental health professionals but they encounter mental health issues in the classroom every day. In the absence of an available and accessible mental health program, the dean of Western University’s Faculty of Education says that schools have become de facto support centres for children and parents.

“Our teachers must be prepared with the knowledge and the tools to recognize mental health issues and to respond in a meaningful way,” says Western Education Dean Vicki Schwean. “Together with our community partners, we are offering our students much needed professional development and, as importantly, helping to bring children’s mental health issues out of the shadows.”

To better prepare graduating teacher candidates for the new normal in Canadian classrooms, Western Education is set to deliver a day-long forum on school-based mental health on Friday, February 7. Western’s Bachelor of Education students will hear real-life stories of children and young people suffering from mental health issues from health and education professionals while discussing how to work collaboratively to create safe relationships and environments. The event is being held at the auditorium in the Western Education Building.

“The forum will focus on positive behaviour support in schools and classrooms,” says Susan Rodger, a Western Education professor and Director of Western’s Centre for School-Based Mental Health. “We will look at ways that teachers can get involved and make a difference to children and young people with mental health issues. Our teacher candidates will also learn about what supports are available to them from mental health leads in each Ontario school district.”

Facilitated by mental health and education professionals, the afternoon programming will include a focus on ways teacher candidates can use the knowledge garnered from the morning key note session to promote positive mental health in their classrooms and schools.

For more information, please contact Susan Rodger at 519-661-2111 ext. 88694 or via email at srodger2@uwo.ca

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Renaud, Senior Media Relations Officer, 519-661-2111, ext. 85165, jrenaud9@uwo.ca, @jeffrenaud99

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