Proper learning requires optimal physical and mental health, and the supports for these are in place within schools.
According to Mental Health Consultant with the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, Raylene Forseth, the resources available to students include teachers, school counsellors, student services, and other staff members.
"The SECPSD offers a wide range of student services to help support positive physical and mental health and positive development, and of course, achieve success in learning for every child in every school. This includes curricular resources in classrooms that align with, for example, the health or the P.E. curriculum. It also includes things like student service counsellors in our schools."
Forseth said they also provide referrals and additional support for families looking for something more.
"That's where they may connect with a counsellor, and the counsellor can support them to be able to find those resources in their community."
She said counselling in schools begins with a solution-focused counselling approach.
"We are able to see and to provide counselling services to all students when it's indicated, but we do provide primarily resources that would be classroom-based resources for all students in the younger grades," explained Forseth. "Our counsellors work alongside teachers and they might provide some resources or actually go into a classroom and spend some time with students as a whole group in those pre-K, K, [Grades] 1,2,3 age groups, and then provide direct one-to-one counselling for older students."
While counselling services are provided to younger students when required, she said, given that their teams have the flexibility to be responsive to each child's needs.
"Teachers are amazing at getting to know the students and recognizing what their needs are, and being responsive."
The solution-focused approach, however, provides curriculum-based tools to last throughout a student's entire life.
"The focus is a range of things from healthy eating and physical activity down to things like self-esteem, self-concept, self-determination, healthy relationships, and those types of things are all included in the curriculum."
She added that while teachers can provide the curricular outcomes, parents can also access the information via the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education website.
Families can also find the curricular outcomes, as well as a variety of resources, including mental health, via the 'Families' link on the SECPSD website.