The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has asked every school in Canada to help improve understanding of student mental health needs. Schools have been asked to participate in a first-of-its-kind census survey to enable researchers to learn more about student mental health and substance use needs; service gaps and challenges; and factors that support effective program implementation.
To reach schools across the country, the MHCC sent surveys to every Director of Education across Canada, with the request to extend participation to all schools. Survey responses will be accepted until December 9, 2011. Results will be presented at a national youth mental health symposium in the spring of 2012.
The survey will be accompanied by a literature review and scan of best practices. The research project is led by Dr. Ian Manion, clinical psychologist, researcher and executive director of the Ontario Centre for Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The research team also includes Dr. Charles Underleider (Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group) and Dr. Kathy Short (Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board).
For more information, visit the Mental Health Commission of Canada website at www.mentalhealthcommission.ca.