"The ABC is a very useful and very impressive system".

The ABCs of Mental HealthMental Health Resource Materials for Parents and Teachershttp://www.hincksdellcrest.org/abcA Project of

We presented this site to parents at our school council meeting and they LOVED the resource! Vice Principal “This new website/resource looks extremely extensive.. I am also very impressed by the number of professionals who were involved in this project. Great job!” Dr. L Craig Turner, PhD, C. Psych, Psychologist “ At a time when teachers and parents are more aware of the impact of mental health on learning and behaviour, the ABCs of Mental Health is a very helpful and useful resource for teachers and parents. It is easy to use and addresses many of the questions that teachers and parents have.” Judy Hills, ED, The Psychological Foundation of Canada The Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology is pleased to see the development of 'The ABCs of Mental Health' as a resource for parents and teachers. Pierre L-J Ritchie, Ph.D., C.Psych., Executive Director. “I noticed that you have a parent and a teacher resource. I have navigated your teacher resource and found it to be very informative.” Incredibly well-researched site that offers information to teachers in an easy to navigate layout. Will be a tremendous "go to" resource for counsellors. Thanks for helping to bring mental health issues out into the open for both parents and educators. Long overdue.MariamRacko, Guidance “I recently participated in a webinar offered by The Centre of Excellence during which you outlined and explained "The ABC's of Mental Health". This will be an excellent resource for schools and families. “ “Thank you for making the trip out and in providing the training. I thought it was very informative and an extremely useful and tech friendly resource.” “I would like to thank you for coming to our respective staff meetings and presenting these resources and the information that is contained on the website to our staff. It was well received. “ "The ABC is a very useful and very impressive system".

LOGIC MODEL Activities Outputs Short Term Outcomes Long Term Outcomes Assess parent/teacher needs (surveys, focus groups, reviews of similar resources) List of behaviours most often listed as worrisome by Teachers and Parents Increased parent/teacher collaboration; more consistent use of strategies between parents and teachers Write/edit chapters Chapters Written Recognition of when no intervention is needed, more direct intervention by parents/teachers themselves when appropriate; more referrals to mental health resources when needed Increased usage of resource by teachers and parents in the school/home Develop website framework /content management system Chapters uploaded, well- organized, well-functioning website Website usage by: native/not, urban/rural, different age groups, different regions More appropriate responses to child/adolescent behaviour by teachers and parents Evaluation of website Improved website based on user feedback Holding/attending media events, conferences and conventions to promote website, and online linking with other websites. Usage of information from resource in school and homes Increased awareness of website Widespread use of resource Parents/teachers will be able to apply knowledge beyond the classroom and their own families Capacity building: Training of parents and teachers to train others on use, promotion of website Network of parents and teachers trained in use and promotion of website Knowledge increase and increase in parent/teacher confidence handling children's/adolescents‘ behaviour issues Improved child/adolescent behaviour Resource used in teacher training and professional development

Objectives • Provide you with an opportunity to learn about the ABCs of Mental Health • Understand how the Resource was developed • Learn how to navigate this web-based resource • Learn about the concepts associated with a wide range of behaviours • Provide you with the tools to collaborate and enhance capacity in dealing with worrisome behaviours within your organization/system.

What it is The ABCs of Mental Health is a web based resource for parents and teachers of grades JK to 12. Drawing on information from expert advisors, the materials respond to Parents’ and Teachers’ most pressing concerns about childrens mental health and behaviour problems in the classroom or at home The information helps parents and teachers to recognize behaviours that cause them concern It provides prevention and early intervention strategies to promote learning and mental health, along with tips for finding help for children/adolescents with mental health problems It helps build capacity to manage behaviour problems in the classroom and/or home

Rationale for the Resource Every day parents and classroom teachers see students with a wide range of mental health problems that interfere with academic success. The information helps parents & teachers to : Describe and monitor behaviours in the classroom or at home that cause them concern. Understand factors that might lead to behaviour problems Plan a strategy in the classroom or home to prevent mental health problems, to address troublesome behaviours, and to promote learning and mental health Learn effective approaches for managing these behaviours and learn how to seek appropriate supports for students whose behaviours suggest a mental health problem

What Do Parents and Teachers Want? • Consultations with School Staff, Parents, in 2005 • What behaviours in your classroom or home are • worrisome to you? • An accessible resource • Age appropriate materials • Not based on a diagnosis • How to tell if a behaviour may reflect a mental health • problem • How to address these behaviours in the classroom or • classroom or home

Three steps to working with students with troublesome behaviours

A focus on worrisome behaviours and not diagnosis • What behaviours in your classroom or at home are worrisome to you? • List of behaviour problems seen in school-age children/students • Guidelines on evaluating the level of severity of the problem and the level of intervention needed • Problems are grouped within 11 broad categories • Not based on a mental health diagnosis

What behaviours concern teachers and parents the most • General issues in good mental health • Worry and anxiety • Sadness • Self-harm • Anger and aggression • Poor social relations • Defiance • Attention problems • Eating problems • Unusual behaviours • Drug and Alcohol Abuse Chapters were all written by experts in the mental health field.

Using the ABCs of Mental Healthon line Searchable by behaviours observed in the classroom or at home Four age groups Early childhood age 3 to 5 Middle childhood age 6 to 12 Early adolescence age 13 to 14 Adolescence age 15 to 18 Behaviours are categorized by level of concern and need for intervention, and not by diagnosis Interventions for use in the classroom or at home for behaviours at various levels of severity The ABCs of Mental Health is provided for education and information only, it is not intended to take the place of advice from a qualified mental health professional

ActionsWhat this Resource Provides Responses to Teachers’ or Parents’ questions or concerns about the mental health of children from age 3 to 18 Descriptions of behaviours that could indicate possible mental health problems. Clear and simple guidelines for understanding how children change as they get older, how boys and girls may differ, and how their special needs can affect their mental health. Framework for understanding behaviours as they relate to children’s mental health Specific ideas for a course of action when childrens’/adolescents’ behaviours indicate mental health problems

ActionsResponses to Teachers’ and Parents’ concerns about the mental health of children Behavior lists compiled through consultations with educators Behaviours might stand alone or cluster with other behaviours The same behaviour might occur for a number of different reasons related to the child’s circumstances or mental health The list of behaviours is comprehensive, and might link to different issues in child development and mental health

ActionsDevelopmental Descriptionsof behaviours that could indicate possible mental health problems Experts in children’s mental health describe the behaviours that are troublesome to teachers and parents Other behaviours to watch for that might occur at the same time Four age groupings show how a behaviour is likely to be presented at different ages and stages of child development

ActionsClear and simple guidelines for understanding children’s/students behaviour How boys and girls may differ in their behaviour How behaviour problems may escalate or change as children get older How children’s special needs can affect their mental health The impact of significant events and issues within the family The impact of significant events in the child’s/student’s environment

ActionsFramework for understanding behaviours as they relate to children’s mental health Framework categorizes behaviours into three levels of severity or concern The same framework provides levels of interventions as suggested strategies for teachers to try in the classroom, (parents to try at home) to address children’s/student’s behaviour problems

Behaviours are categorized by level of concern and severity and correlate to level of intervention

B is for Beliefs Possible factors that may be causing or influencing the child’s/student’s behaviour Consideration of these different factors could lead to different strategies for supporting the child/student Biolological, congenital, health factors Family circumstances and events Disabilities Cultural or religious factors Trauma, loss, or turbulent environment

C is for Course to Follow:What Teachers and Parents Can Do A framework for planning interventions in the classroom and at home Promoting good mental health of all students in the classroom and at home. Knowing when and how to deal with troubling behaviour in the classroom and at home Knowing whena child’s behaviour would require mental health support

How to Use the ResourceTwo Access Methods I wish to utilize the Resource to: I wish to investigate a worrisome behaviour or potential mental health problem Engage in review a chapterrelated to potential mental health problems

What type of child are you wondering about? Broad behaviour categories / chapters: The Worried or Anxious child The Sad Child The Self-Harmful Child The Angry or Aggressive Child The Defiant or Misbehaving Child The Child with Social Skills Problems The Child with Attention and Memory Problems The Child with Unusual Behaviours The Child with Eating Problems The Child with Drug and Alcohol Problems

The Worried ChildSubchapters Introduction Separation Worries Excessively Compliant Specific Fears Frightening Memories Social Anxiety Panic Responses Fixed behaviours

The Worried Child - Separation Worries – Behaviour List crying or clinging; cry easily withdraw socially sad listless difficulty concentrating anxious agitated demanding; intrusive need constant attention repetitive questions worry about health and safety fears (of animals, of being abandoned, of being alone) physical problems/complaints (headache, upset stomach or stomachache, extreme tension) doesn’t want to go to school/ refuses to go to school does not settle quickly after separating from the significant adult no soothing is effective. does not take an interest in the activities of other children remains preoccupied with the adult who has left afraid to go alone to washroom or other parts of school building. refuses to go to school. frequent requests to phone home from school frequent requests for a parent to come refuses to go on school trips unless accompanied by a parent requests permission to leave early/leaves school or class early does not make an adjustment to new school after moving does not attend full days at school for a week or more

Reading Through the Resource Engage in review a chapterrelated to potential mental health problems in elementary or high school aged children. PDFs to download for sub-chapters

Resources Now Available Parent Resource for ages 3 to 18 years, in four age groups Expanded Teacher Resource for ages 3 to 18 years in four age groups Train the Trainer sessions in all regions of Canada in 2011-12

Availability http://www.hincksdellcrest.org/abcAn open, internet based resource For further information contact Bethann Levinson, Project Coordinator blevinson@hincksdellcrest.org 416-972-1935

"The ABC is a very useful and very impressive system".