Photo courtesy MHPSD

By Chantal Wagner

Hope and Resilience: Part 2

School communities continue the conversation about suicide & mental health

Nov 3, 2020 | 11:23 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Local school divisions are continuing the conversation about suicide and mental health with an online session on Wednesday, November 4.

It’s part two of the virtual conversation, Connecting with School Communities about Suicide: Hope and Resilience in Southeast Alberta PART 2.

The first virtual session was held at the beginning of October.

All parents, caregivers, and school staff in Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta are invited to attend.

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According to the school divisions, questions from the first event still need to be addressed, and this gives an opportunity to connect with school communities again.

School Division Psychologist Speakers will be in attendance: Claire Petersen, MHPSD Division Psychologist R.Psych and Greg Godard, PRSD Division Psychologist R.Psych.

It is a one-hour virtual session from 7 pm- 8 pm. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIVE PRESENTATION.

No registration is required for this event, attendees can just click the link above.

According to the school divisions, you will need to download Microsoft Teams on your tablet or smartphone to watch this presentation.

The event will be hosted in Microsoft Teams; any viewers that choose to use their smartphone or tablet will need to download the app.

Background from the local school divisions:

“As you are probably aware, there have been a series of deaths by suicide in the southeast region of Alberta that have impacted people in our communities and weigh heavily on those who are working to prevent further loss. Many of our children are burdened by these tragedies but not all are communicating openly about their concerns.”

Since the first session, school-based psychology professionals and support teams have been working with families to answer important questions about the following themes:

Concerns related to pandemic/school-closures and reopening.

When are my child’s struggles serious enough to warrant the need for more help?

What are schools doing to address mental health and how do students access supports?

What community supports are available and how to access them?

How to have open conversations about suicide with your child/youth?

How do I help someone who isn’t ready for help?

Understanding the grief process?

Impact of social media on children/youth.

Building resilience in our children/youth.

According to the school divisions, there will be more information about part 3 in the coming weeks. Which will focus on school leaders and counsellors to engage with families, staff, and students through small and intimate, in-person conversations at schools.