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By Chantal Wagner

part 3

Schools continue virtual mental health conversations with families this week

Nov 30, 2020 | 4:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Public School Division is continuing the conversations around mental health and resiliency for students and the supports available.

Division Psychologist Claire Petersen will lead the virtual talks for middle school and high school families.

The sessions will be split between SD76 schools with the first Tuesday night (Dec. 1).

The group sessions will be small and more intimate, unlike the first two conversations held in the fall.

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Families will have a chance to ask questions and speak with the supports that are available in their child’s school.

Petersen says the feedback about the conversations has been positive so far.

“Obviously as we get closer to Christmas and winter brings a different kind of stress, we have lots of families in our community this year that will be going through some very difficult firsts as we get closer to Christmas break. As we get close to exams and end of the semester and Christmas we know that stress tends to rise. So we want to make sure even though some things are starting to be in a bit of a lull, people are starting to feel things are okay again we want to keep this in the forefront and continue to reach out and connect with our families.”

Registration is required for the online Zoom sessions. That can be found by visiting this link as well as the schedule for the school sessions.

Families can also watch for the elementary sessions coming up, the goal is to have them all completed before the Christmas break.

Due to this session not being anonymous, these sessions won’t be recorded like the other two have been in the past.

Petersen says they have been focusing on the importance of connection, especially as grades 7-12 switch to online learning again until January 8, 2021.

“Our concern is always that when we go to a place of online learning, does that look like disconnection? We don’t want our families to disengage and we know that’s challenging for lots of our middle school and high school families right now. And so we want to stay connected, stay connected, and that there are still supports available,” she said.

The division’s counselling team and family-school liaison workers are ready to deploy their services online as they did in the spring during this time.

They also have in-person opportunities for some of their students who are accessing counselling supports who need in-person connections.

For school supports and family resources visit this link.