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New clinic enhancing mental health care for local students

Local students will have an extra line of defence when it comes to battling mental health issues this school year with the formation of the new child and adolescent mental health group. "It's just three months we've been going at this...

Local students will have an extra line of defence when it comes to battling mental health issues this school year with the formation of the new child and adolescent mental health group.

"It's just three months we've been going at this... As of the end of August, we had 31 referrals and we've taken in 21 kids," said Alena Thompson, who filled the role of mental health navigator.

Under the umbrella of the mental health steering committee, the initiative was put in gear earlier this year after receiving funding from both the MD and Town of Bonnyville councils, as well as support from local school boards. The initiative aims to fill a gap in the treatment of mental health, and put additional resources and preventative treatment in place.

Thompson operates out of the Bonnyville Medical Clinic, with the Primary Care Network as support. Clients between the ages of six and 17 are seen at a multi-disciplinary clinic on Tuesdays at the Public Health Office, meeting with doctors, a mental health therapist, school counsellors, and anyone else involved in that child's care.

"All of the school counsellors I've spoken to so far are very impressed with this format, that we'll actually have all of these people sitting together, communicating that much better for the wellbeing of these children," Thompson explained. "There's always been a huge need for mental health services for children around here. That's why they wanted someone full-time designated to deal with it; I can be that person that can coordinate it and make sure the necessary people are around the table."

Up to this point, Thompson noted they have seen a wide range of referrals from parents, physicians, emergency room doctors, and the addictions counsellor, for clients of all ages.

"We actually have a four-year-old who started kindergarten last week. We started seeing her a little early just to make sure she had supports in place because her preschool had identified some areas of concern with her - up to clients that are 18-years-old, so kids that are still finishing high school."

Now that school is back in session, Thompson is expecting to see even more referrals flow in. Working collaboratively with the various local schools, the new child and adolescent mental health clinic will help to provide care for students who need treatment beyond what the school counsellors can provide.

"This is going to have a tremendous impact. We already started in June and have had numerous students in the clinic and are already seeing a positive impact and success for students attending the clinic," expressed Michelle Dargis, director of student learning for the Lakeland Catholic School District (LCSD).

Dargis continued, explaining that while they already have family outreach workers to "serve the students with mild to moderate needs in the area of mental health," having a mental health navigator and clinic available is a welcome addition to strengthen their supports.

"Oftentimes, if there was a complex issue with a student, the wait times for referral to a psychologist in the city or to be admitted, we would have to wait a considerable amount of time to get them in."

Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) communications officer Nicole Garner echoed that sentiment, noting that the division has always had supports in place for students but the new initiative adds to the resources they're able to provide.

"It's huge. We've always worked collaboratively with mental health, addictions, AHS, and other community partners. That's really been a key for the success of the services we offer to our students... This further enhances that, to be in there with the doctor when they're meeting with the students just adds to the collaboration and makes providing the services to a student that much more streamlined."

At the school level, the three divisions in the area (public, separate, and Francophone) are involved with the clinics by ensuring whoever is working with a student in regards to mental health at the school is also at the Tuesday clinic if they're meeting with a doctor. Further to that, they're also at the table with the various partners to discuss how the collaboration is going to operate and progress.

"It's been great because now there's increased awareness of all of the services available in the area. Not only are we more aware of the services outside the school division, but everyone else is more aware of the services we provide to our students," said Garner.

By having a more proactive approach to mental health, the hope is that they will see less youth in crisis in the emergency room. Beyond treatment, Thompson added that their goal is to bring more awareness to mental health issues and help students understand what their peers are going through.

"Hopefully we can get rid of the stigmas, have the kids more aware of what their classmates or their brothers and sisters are going through, or themselves... We're still learning a lot of what's available through the schools. Our hope is that everyone can work together a little better and these kids will be better taken care of."

Students or families who wish to be referred to the child and adolescent multi-disciplinary clinic can speak with their family doctor, school counsellor, or go to the walk-in clinic and speak with the doctor on duty.

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