Mental Health Support at CCS

Mrs. Tricia Schinkel (BA, MC:AT) Registered Psychotherapist, Art Therapist School Counsellor Office Hours from September 2024: Monday and Wednesday 8:30-3:30; Thursday 8:30-11:30 (WEST 5th) Mental Health Services include:  A focus on student care, mental health & wellness, belonging, social and emotional development School wide social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and curriculum that can improve student outcomes and provide learning for ALL students about tools to identify, express, and manage their emotions in healthy ways (TIER 1 - Whole School Support, ex. Zones of Regulation curriculum) Assessing students social/emotional needs and challenges (TIER 2 - Some students specific support) Providing short term individual counselling support to students as needed (TIER 3 - Individual support) Consulting and collaborating with educators, staff, and parents related to student social-emotional needs Advocating for student social and emotional needs Providing resources for and connecting families to the community for long term supports Staying up to date with professional development to increase knowledge for evidence based practice and collaborating with other mental health professionals within Christian Schools Referrals:  Students can be referred for individual short term support by teacher, parents, or admin. The goal of the individual sessions is to assess and evaluate their functioning and to provide short term skill building for emotions and managing stress. Students are offered 2-3 visits with the School Counsellor (SC), unless determined otherwise. The school counsellor will also provide recommendations for long term counselling support within the community, when applicable. Students over 12 have the right to seek confidential counselling, without the consent of a parent (Child and Family Services Act).

Ongoing Activities from the Mental Health Program:

• UNWIND RECESS GROUP - relaxation and regulation recess group. Each grade (gr.2-8) has a monthly opportunity to join this group and learn skills for relaxing and managing emotions through art, games, and other activities. 
• STUDENT WELLNESS TEAM - every year a new group of students in grade 7-8 helps to plan various wellness activities for the whole school throughout the year.
• CLASSROOM VISITS - the school counsellor will often visit the classroom for specific lessons on social emotional learning topics (ie. Zones of Regulation) or during morning meetings to have emotion check ins
• INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT - as needed, students receive support for various needs     

School Mental Health Facts

Did you know...

• The mental health/school counselling program began at CCS in 2019-20 and the Zones of Regulation curriculum was introduced as a school wide initiative to increase social and emotional awareness. This continues to be taught so that kids have a universal language to label, express, and manage emotions. Zones of Regulation Explained

• National School Counselling Week is the first week of FEBRUARY 

• Mental Health Awareness week is in the first week of MAY

• CCS is 1 of 9 Christian Schools in Ontario that has a school counsellor/mental health professional. These school counsellors meet monthly for peer supervision and consultation so that they can continue to provide the best support for students and families. These roles are continuing to grow in Christian Schools and there is also now a Mental Health Clinical Support Network for mental health professionals in Christian Schools, supported by Edvance Christian School Association, led by T.Schinkel. 

Mental Health Resources:

• School Mental Health Ontario
• Focus on the Family
• School Counsellor.org - Tips for self care
• School Counsellor.org - Tips for Parents

Crisis Response Resources: 

• COAST (Crisis Outreach Support Team) Hamilton 905-972-8338 or 1-844-972-8338 
• KidsHelp.ca (text, phone, live chat, and resources available)  1-888-668-6868
• 911
• Go to McMaster Children's Hospital ER: CHYMES (Child and Youth Mental Health Emergency Services)