Student mental health program grows

Local Journalism Initiative

May 6, 2024 at 11:16 p.m.·2 min read

Building on the success over the last two years, the Mental Health Capacity Building in Schools program recently added five more schools to the list. Now at a total of 15 participating schools since inception, the provincial government has also added and extra $1 million to the Ministry of Health’s 2024-25 budget for a total investment of $3 million.

“Mental health is a priority for our government, including for children and youth,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Tim McLeod said. “That is why we are adding five more schools to the Mental Health Capacity Building in Schools program this year, for a total of 15 schools now in the program.”

Communities with the MHCB program in their schools include Yorkton, Weyburn, Balgonie, Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Llodminster, Meadow Lake, La Ronge, and Sandy Bay.

“It is the provincial government’s intention to continue expanding this program to all 27 school divisions in the province,” noted Ministry of Health spokesperson Dale Hunter, adding that future expansion to all school divisions is part of a five-year action plan on mental health and addictions. “School divisions not already offering the MHCB program are invited annually to submit applications for a school from their division to join the program.”

The goal of the MHCB program is to promote positive mental health in children, youth, families, and people in the community who interact with children. The focus is on prevention and mental health promotion along with early identification and intervention. Young people gain skills to better manage their feeling and learn where to find help when they need it. The schools are effectively resource hubs with students able to access a wide range of mental health promotion and programming. This happens in a joint effort between the schools, communities, and health care providers.

Participating school divisions receive funding from the Saskatchewan Health Authority to hire MHCB staff, who deliver programming in schools and work with individuals.

Investment in mental health and addiction services has seen a boon from the provincial government, with a record $574 million earmarked in the last budget.

Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The World-Spectator

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