YMHC November 2024 Newsletter

Youth Mental Health Canada November 2024 Newsletter

Youth Mental Health Canada

Nov 04, 2024

Thank you for subscribing to the YMHC newsletter. This volume contains information on YMHC events and activities.

Plain Text Version:

November Volume: An Overview

Date: September 30, 2024

Welcome

Thank you for subscribing to the YMHC newsletter. This volume contains information on YMHC events and activities.
Be sure to check out YMHC resources:

4 mental wellness workbooks
5 printables/booklets
1 guidebook
An upcoming student workbook on experiences in school

November Highlights

Awareness Months & Days

Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Grief and Bereavement Day – November 19
National Addictions Awareness Week – November 24 to 30
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - November 25*
First Sunday of November: Transgender Parent Day
November 13 – 19: Transgender Awareness Week
November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance

Indigenous Youth Support

YMHC continues to identify ways to provide resource support to Indigenous communities.
Contact us to discuss how YMHC can support Indigenous young people and those who work with them:
🌐 www.ymhc.ngo/contact

Self-Care Tip

Ask, “why?” as often as needed.
Questioning is not meant to be difficult or challenging, but instead to establish your own thoughtful response to the accepted norm.
Try not to feel obligated to accept rules, policies, or practices unquestioningly without determining if they make sense to you or align with your values.

Meet the Team

The YMHC newsletter was produced by Chelsea, Sheryl, Jim, and Tracey.

YMHC Shop

THE FEELINGS WHEEL MERCH

The YMHC Feelings Wheel merchandise collection is designed to foster emotional awareness and self-reflection in everyday life. Based on YMHC's Feelings Wheel—a tool featured in our popular digital booklet—these products provide a constant, gentle reminder to tune into and explore a wide range of feelings.
Collection Includes:

Mouse pads
Tote bags
Posters
Pillows

Each item incorporates the Feelings Wheel to help individuals recognize, articulate, and understand their emotions by connecting them with thoughts, sensations, and behaviors.

Benefits:

Promotes emotional growth
Supports coping strategies and self-awareness
Ideal for personal spaces, work settings, and educational environments

Rooted in YMHC's commitment to mental wellness, each product enhances emotional intelligence, reminding users to stay connected with themselves and their emotions throughout the day.

Recipe Corner

Mushroom Risotto

Servings: 3-4
Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup arborio rice
3-4 cups water or broth *
5-6 brown mushrooms
Salt and pepper

Directions:

In a medium pot, bring arborio rice and 2 cups of water to boil for 2-3 minutes.
Turn the heat to medium and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula to prevent sticking.
Add 1/2 cup liquid and continue stirring until the rice absorbs the liquid.
Continue adding one ladle full at a time while stirring continuously. This process takes around 20-25 minutes, depending on desired doneness.
Once the rice is firm tender or to your liking, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Notes:

*May require more than 3-4 cups water or broth if the rice is still not to your desired doneness.

Working Out for Wellness

No equipment needed – give this quick workout a go!

Jumping Jacks
3 sets of 30 seconds
Mountain Climbers
3 sets of 20 seconds
Up-Up-Down-Down Planks
3 sets of 12
Alternating High Knees
3 sets of 30 seconds
Burpees
3 sets of 12
Alternating Forward Lunges
3 sets of 16

Upcoming Resource

In Inuktitut

Sources of Strength will be translated into Inuktitut and distributed to students, families, and educators in Nunavut.

Nunavut is home to 24,000 Inuit, over 80% of whom speak Inuktitut.
The 2001 census data shows that the use of Inuktitut, while lower among the young than the elderly, has stopped declining in Canada as a whole and may even be increasing in Nunavut.
Nunavut’s suicide rate remains nearly 9 times the national average.

2024 Training Course Schedule

Dates: Wednesday, November 6 to Wednesday, December 11
Time: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST
Course: Training on School-Wide Strategies to Support Students

Details:

Duration: 15 hours of instruction and discussion
Includes: Comprehensive assignment package, certificate of completion, and a photocopiable guidebook.

Register Now: www.ymhc.ngo/sptc

Upcoming Conference

International Network for School Attendance (INSA) Conference

Dates: October 30th to November 1st, 2024
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Focus: Partnering to Advance Attendance

YMHC will be joining passionate education and health professionals, advocates for school attendance, and believers in the life-changing power of education.
Workshop Presentation:
Title: “School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with School Phobia, Avoidance, and Chronic School Absenteeism”

Symposium: School and Community-Wide Strategies to Support Students Who Experience Chronic School Absenteeism

Presented by: YMHC/Sheryl Boswell

Overview:

Importance of supporting young people unable to access and manage education.
Emphasis on increasing mental wellness protective factors, providing needs-based educational support, and implementing proactive and preventative approaches.

Key Points:

Chronic school absenteeism impacts youth mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention.
Significant loss in education, future potential in employment, and support networks.
Schools play a key role in identifying at-risk students and developing effective support systems.

Save the Date: 2025 National Virtual Conference on Chronic School Absenteeism

Dates: May 30 and 31, 2025
Title: Making Waves in School Attendance: School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with Chronic Absenteeism
Location: Virtual

About the Conference: Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) is proud to announce its 2025 National Virtual Conference aimed at addressing chronic school absenteeism in Canada.

Key Issues:

Absentee rates ranging from 20% to 80% in some areas.
Hamilton's absenteeism rate at 54%.
Lack of national public data on student absenteeism.

Quote: "We are walking blindfolded into the future with no understanding of the magnitude of this problem and how to respond to it," said Sheryl Boswell, Executive Director of YMHC. "Our education system is missing too many students, and it's time we took collective action to bring them back."

Conference Goals:

Share data, research, and best practices on addressing chronic absenteeism.
Discuss strategies for universal student support and protocols for early identification and response.
Create a national network to promote school attendance and respond to absenteeism.

Why Attend?

Gain Insights: Learn from national and international experts in education and mental health.
Collaborate: Engage with professionals and families dealing with chronic absenteeism.
Innovate: Contribute to developing actionable strategies to improve student attendance, inclusion, school access, and engagement.

The Broader Impact: Chronic absenteeism affects not just individual students but also Canada's future workforce and economy. According to The Conference Board of Canada, depression and anxiety cost the economy at least $49.6 billion annually through lost productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism.

Quote: "If we can support students facing mental health challenges that lead to absenteeism, we'll not only improve their lives but also strengthen our future workforce," added Boswell. "The labor movement and all Canadians have a role to play in this crucial endeavor."

Join Us: Canada has an opportunity to reimagine education and support our nation's "missing" young people. By addressing chronic absenteeism, we can identify the strategies needed to support students effectively.

For More Information:

Registration: ymhc.me/conference
Contact: admin@YouthMentalHealth.ca
Website: schoolphobia.ymhc.ngo