Working with school staff

Parents, teachers and other school staff each have a crucial role to play as members of the young person’s support team. In order to have a meaningful understanding of the teen’s experience and gain the information necessary for early intervention on the teen’s behalf, it is essential that both the public world of school and the private world of the home are represented on the support team.

At home, young people may be more likely to express how they feel; in school the teacher will pick up on the increased symptoms brought on by stress of required work and negative encounters with peers.

An open dialogue between the student’s closest observers – parents and teachers – is an essential in order to get teens with mental health problems and mental illness the kind of help they need.

School staff can be great partners in early identification of mental health problems and mental illness among students, often picking up on many of the warning signs mentioned earlier. Manyt schools also have access to mental health professionals, such as school psychologists, counselors, and social workers. These staff can provide support for early intervention, and can help parents access a comprehensive range of mental health services for their teens.

*This section was excerpted from Parents and Teachers as Allies by Joyce Burland, Ph.D., National Director, NAMI Education, Training and Peer Support Center, Second Edition, 2003. Reproduced with permission.

The Special Education system

The type and quality of support that will be available to your teen, and how easily you can get your teen this support, may vary between provinces, school boards and individual schools. Because education is a provincial/territorial jurisdiction, the legislation and funding governing this area is determined at that level.
The broad policy framework is set out by each province and territory, and individual School Boards interpret this legislation, and create their own policies on providing services to students in their schools.

To find further information on the policies in your area, check out the Federal Government’s SchoolNet website. It lists the Ministries of Education for each Province and Territory. From there you can get in touch with the Policy Branch of your Ministry, and find out more about the policies in your province or Territory. From there, you can inquire about specifics with the Superintendent of your local School Board/District.

All School Boards should have a written Special Education Needs policy, outlining their services and supports. You can ask your teen’s school for a copy.

Most teens with mental health problems and mental illness can participate fully and succeed high school – both in mainstream and modified programs. A small number may have their needs met in their home, a hospital or a special school.

Each school usually has a person (often the Special Education teacher) with primary responsibility for arranging support for students with special educational needs.

The school may choose to write down the support provided for your teen in an individual education plan which might include information such as:

What special help/accommodations are being provided

How often your teen will receive the help

Who will provide the help

What the targets for your teen are

How and when your teen’s progress will be checked

What help you can give your teen at home.