Carpenter High School graduates will have the opportunity to participate in the first in-person graduation ceremony since the COVID-19 pandemic began. (File photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Carpenter Health

Carpenter High to offer the Mental Health Capacity Building program in fall

Apr 30, 2024 | 12:09 PM

Carpenter High School has been selected to offer Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) in Schools program.

“It’s really an evidence-based approach to improving mental health and wellbeing of the students,” said Jennifer Wlliamson, deputy director with Northwest School Division.

“What my understanding of the project or the program is, is we are going to be looking at is hiring two additional positions to help support this initiative,” she added.

“It’s going to be positive mental health promotion, prevention, early identification and intervention. That’s really the four main pillars of what this program is aiming to achieve.”

The announcement was made earlier this week from Moose Jaw with Prairie South School Division members and government officials, including Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill, that five additional schools would be added.

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Williamson explained they will be having meetings with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to learn more about the program.

“The goal is that this will be implemented for the fall of 2024,” she said.

According to the press release, with the Ministry of Health’s budget increase in funding of $1 million, the program has now expanded to $3 million in financial support.

“With today’s expansion announcement of the Mental Health Capacity Building program, more students will receive more support for their mental health and overall wellbeing,” Cockrill said in the release.

“I am proud of the positive impact this program has had to date and I look forward to seeing its continued success.”

According to Williamson, to be considered, the school board joined forces with the school staff and community partnerships to submit an application along with support letters and were accepted.

“One of five schools,” she said of the other successful applicants: Balfour Collegiate in Regina, Lloydminster Composite High School in Lloydminster, Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw and St. Alphonsus School in Yorkton.

“There’s certain things in the application that they do look for and we do have to put information that talks about our need and such,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say that the needs so much are unique to Carpenter…the mental health needs continue to grow in all of our schools in the division and so, it’s really making sure that we’re building capacity in our schools to be able to meet those mental health needs by promoting positive mental health early on.”

The release said these five schools brings the total to 15 schools and “staff members are responsible…building capacity in others who work with children, youth and families; and supporting students through connection to community resources and supports.”

Meanwhile, Williamson said they were “very grateful and excited for this opportunity,” noting they will learn more about what the program will mean in the coming days.

“The other piece of that is also referring them to the appropriate services if need be as well. So, this is more than just Carpenter School, it’s a community partnership as well because we know we can’t do it alone,” she said.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com