Teachers across the region are getting a crash course in mental health training for their students.
Triple Play in Kenora has been involved with Project 11, which is a mental health program launched by the Winnipeg Jets and supported by the Jets alumni.
Over the weekend, the Jets alumni were involved in a charity hockey game and other activities around Kenora.
Christy Radbourne is the Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, and she says they dedicated their Professional Development Day around children’s mental health.
“It really is a lingering effect coming out of COVID,” explains Radbourne.
“There was a significant increase in anxiety amongst young people. We know that cellphones, the digital world, is really increasing the kinds of mental health issues, including anxiety, allowing for cyberbullying,”
Radbourne adds that studies have shown the mental health of their students is getting worse, but teachers can help.
“All these pieces can really be impacted by positive relationships with educators, and staff and attending to the mental health issues at our schools. So, we actually think its foundational to learning about children without good mental health.”
Radbourne says the mental health training continued on Tuesday in Sioux Lookout.
