Current Mental Health Landscape
Children require healthy emotional and social development to build resilience. However, children living with mental illness in Canada often do not receive the appropriate treatment, which can affect their ability to learn. A national study in Chile found that mental health in first grade was one of the strongest predictors of academic performance in later years.
Did you know?
Being at risk for mental health problems in first grade leads to a 5% drop in academic performance in just two years. (Murphy, 2015) |
By high school as many as 40% - 60% of students become chronically disengaged from school. (Klem & Connell, 2004) |
Furthermore, approximately 30% of high school students engage in multiple high-risk behaviours (e.g, substance use, sex, violence, depression, attempted suicide) that interfere with school performance and jeopardize their potential for life success. (Dryfoos, 1997; Eaton et al., 2008).
In their 2015 report, Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada, The Mental Health Commission Canada outlined the following strategic direction, which shows the importance of integrating mental health initiatives within the school setting:
Increase comprehensive school health and post-secondary mental health initiatives that promote mental health for all students and include targeted prevention efforts for those at risk. Source: Mental Health Commission