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Governing Ourselves

This section provides updates on licensing and qualification requirements, notification of Council resolutions and reports from various Council committees, including reports on accreditation and discipline matters.

Professional Advice on Supporting Students' Mental Health

In March and April the College visited seven Ontario communities to promote discussion about its recent professional advisory, Supporting Students' Mental Health.

Photo of a group of people watching a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health' in Sudbury.
Photo: Helga Himer

Sudbury

The College visited seven communities — beginning in Toronto and moving on to Ottawa, Kingston, Hamilton, Windsor, Thunder Bay and Sudbury.

Photo of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre psychiatrist Amy Cheung, MD, speaking in Ottawa. Photo of a group of people applauding.
Photos: Blair Gable

Ottawa

In each community the College hosted a panel that included local school board representatives, students, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre psychiatrist Amy Cheung, MD, (pictured, above), and other experts from the mental health community.

Photo of a group of people watching a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health' in Sudbury. Photo of someone speaking into a microphone.
Photos: Destiny Dawn

Hamilton

Teachers' instructional roles enable them to observe students closely and they are often the first to recognize changes in student behaviour. Well-informed OCTs can help to ensure that students with mental health concerns get the help they need.

Photo of a group of people seated at a panel. Photo of someone speaking into a microphone.
Photos: André Van Vugt

Toronto

Across Canada, one in five students experiences a mental health concern or illness in any given year. By understanding the characteristics of mental health, teachers can help to identify students who may be at risk, support them on the path to care and create a learning environment that encourages recovery and wellness.

Photo of a group of people watching a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health' in Sudbury.
Photo: Luke Kroeker

Kingston

Teachers don't diagnose mental illness, but they can support students at risk by knowing what to look for, who to report to and where to find resources.

Photo of College Chair, Nicole van Woudenberg, Ontario Certified Teacher, speaking at a podium in Thunder Bay during a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health.'
Photo: Alan Dickson

Thunder Bay

Both the advisory and the presentations highlighted teachers' professional obligations, characteristics to look for and questions teachers can ask themselves to assess their own awareness of situations, protocols, and employer and community resources.

Photo of a group of people watching a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health' in Windsor. Photo of a group of people watching a presentation about 'Supporting Students' Mental Health' in Windsor.
Photos: Trevor Booth

Windsor

The professional advisory encourages a multidisciplinary team approach to caring for students with mental illness that could include colleagues, parents and other para-professionals.

See the advisory, backgrounder and video at oct-oeeo.ca/StudentMentalHealth.