Student well-being team work pays off
It has been seven years since the student well-being teams launched as a pilot program running at Montague Regional High School. Since then, the program has expanded across Island schools and service use has grown.
Lynn-Anne James is the Student Well-being Social Worker and Team Lead for Kings County and she says she can see work has been paying off.
“Now when I go into a classroom students are raising their hands and answering questions with confidence, they’re drawing back on what they’ve already learned,” she said. Another way it is clear the work the team is doing is having an effect is when she sees students supporting their peers by suggesting tools they have learned from the team.
“You can really see a higher level of emotional literacy,” Ms James said.
Since 2017-18 the number of new referrals to the Island-wide service per year has increased from 183 to over 1,000 per year. Last year around 180 students were referred to the service in the Montague, Morell and Souris Families of Schools.
While the team’s work in providing workshops to full classrooms of students, welcoming student drop-ins, providing group programming for students and separately for parents and offering one-on-one counselling seem to be helping, Ms James said, there are still many issues students are facing today.
More than a third of students referred to the service are seeking support with anxiety, low mood, or difficulty regulating their emotions.
Social functioning is the second most common issue. This includes difficulty in relationships with peers and family members as well as bullying.
Other issues the team supports students with include new life stressors (such as the loss of a loved one, a parental divorce or move), physical and sexual health concerns and substance use.
Ms James said there are some trending issues that could be contributors.
These include difficulties that are still impacting families in the wake of the pandemic and now facing a higher cost of living.
Students may have family members who are struggling with substance use or simply an increase in anxiety, all of which can lead to relationship troubles and impact youth in the home.
“A lot of youth have precarious home situations,” Ms James said, adding some youth no longer feel comfortable or welcome in their home.
The addition of a family support worker to student well-being teams has been an effort to expand the holistic approach the team can offer.
Rachel Collier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Graphic
