Training aims to boost mental health literacy in high schools

The area’s two school boards are participating in a pilot program aimed at increasing mental health awareness among teachers and students at local high schools.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board have each committed to sending staff to Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby next week to participate in a training program focused on mental illness in teens.

Deanna Swift, a psychologist (supervised practice) with the public board, explained that the program is designed to educate both students and staff about mental health issues, or increase what Swift calls “mental health literacy.

Classroom lessons in mental health could save young lives

Life is hard enough without having a label plastered to your forehead that reads “Treat me like I’m stupid.”

Eighth-graders at Grandville Middle School the other day wore that label and others, from “Ignore me completely” to “Laugh at all my ideas.”

Treat each other accordingly, the students were told.

After a while of this, a kid can get bummed out. Imagine feeling like this all the time — worthless, ignored.

What if, at the end of the lesson, you couldn’t peel that sticker off?
Full Story: http://www.mlive.com/health/index.ssf/2011/10/classroom_lessons_in_mental_he.html

Dealing with gay students, bullying in very different ways

.

Jared Pettingill’s parents wanted a safe place for their son to attend school where he wouldn’t be harassed for being gay

They found that place in the Minneapolis Public School district.

“It’s just been really accepting in my experience,” says Jared, a high school junior. He says he’s “never really dealt with bullying issues” in middle school or high school.

“The amount of positive reaction to LGBT issues is really amazing.”

Minneapolis Public School administrators admit that by no means has bullying been eradicated from their schools. However, they firmly believe that they are leading the way in creating a safe environment for all students

The Rest of the Story: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/12/us/minneapolis-bullying-schools/