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Surrey Schools shares initiatives during Mental Health Week and National Child & Youth Mental Health Day

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This week, the district is recognizing both Mental Health Week (May 4 to 10) and National Child & Youth Mental Health Day (May 7), highlighting a number of district initiatives and resources available to students and staff to better support their mental health.

Mental Health Week was established in 1951 by the Canadian Mental Health Association, designating the first full week of May as an opportunity to raise awareness for mental health and offer practical solutions to support recovery from mental illness.

National Child & Youth Mental Health Day was established in 2007 by B.C.-based non-profit FamilySmart to raise awareness of mental health challenges faced by children and youth, and to encourage positive connections between young people and adults.

The health and well-being of students and staff remains a top priority of the district, and Surrey Schools continues to aim to foster understanding and encourage support for positive mental health through programs, workshops, training and other supports.

 

Integrated Child & Youth Teams

Surrey Schools is one of more than 21 districts across the province with an Integrated Child & Youth (ICY) Team, made up of professionals from the district, Fraser Health and Child & Youth Mental Health.

The multidisciplinary team shares information and insights around best practices with engaging youth, and provides accessible mental health and substance use resources to support students through a family-centred approach.

This year, the district has three top focuses for ICY: mental health literacy, cultural competency, and substance use education and prevention.

  • Mental health literacy aims to ensure that all students, staff and families have equitable access to mental health education and resources, and aligns with maintaining Surrey and White Rock schools as safe and caring spaces that support our greater communities. Having an understanding of mental health, ways to support ourselves and others, and additional supports is instrumental in reducing stigma while encouraging access to supports if needed.
  • Cultural competency strives to work alongside families to support mental health and substance use needs of youth across the district’s diverse population. This includes consistent education, messaging and resources available in multiple languages, as well as visually, to reach and inform families with an ongoing continuity of care.
  • Substance use education and prevention is offered to more than 500 youth annually through the district’s Substance Use Liaison program, with a focus on early intervention and options to connect with further community-based supports. The district also hosts evening events to share information with parents and caregivers related to substance use, including vaping, and works collaboratively with Fraser Health to bridge education and community supports.

 

Indigenous Supports

For Indigenous students and families, the district’s Indigenous Learning department has hosted a number of Indigenous Family Wellness Nights, inviting them to a warm and welcoming evening grounded in relationship-building, care and community in support of mental health.

Each night begins with families sharing a meal, connecting with one another in a powerful act that builds trust and a sense of belonging. Afterwards, families are invited into a wellness circle facilitated by an Indigenous registered clinical counsellor, creating a safe space where families can speak openly, learn from one another and know they are not alone.

The circle is guided by Indigenous values of respect, listening and relational accountability. Conversations are responsive to family needs and have included topics such as anxiety, substance use and behaviour support, all approached with care, cultural understanding and compassion.

Over time, these evenings have grown to approximately 30 families gathering regularly, reflecting the strong relationships that have been built and the trust families have in the space. Many families return not only for support but also for connection with the counsellor, staff and other families walking similar paths.

Indigenous Family Wellness Nights strengthen community by honouring Indigenous ways of coming together, supporting one another and caring for the whole family. In the district’s pursuit of positive mental health for all, they create space for healing, shared learning, laughter and connection, reinforcing that wellness is relational and that families are strongest when they are supported by community.

 

Resources & Supports

The district’s Mental Health & Well-Being Students & Families webpage also has numerous links to resources for mental wellness, including as a series of animated videos for both elementary and secondary levels that address a variety of topics and are available in multiple languages:

 

Additionally, this Thursday (May 7), FamilySmart is hosting an online event featuring Katie DeReus, a registered clinical counsellor and Vice-President of Professional Development for the BC School Counsellors Association. DeReus has more than two decades of experience as both a teacher and an elementary school counsellor, and has long advocated for greater awareness and understanding of the mental struggles faced by children and youth.

 

Below is a comprehensive list of crisis supports, health resources, counselling options and smartphone apps for mindfulness and guided meditation to help students and families experiencing mental health issues.

 

Crisis Supports:

  • Kids Help Phone | 1-800-668-6868 (toll free) or text CONNECT to 686868 – Confidential and anonymous telephone and online counselling and referral service for young people up to age 20, available 24/7.
  • Kids Help Phone Online Chat | kidshelpphone.ca – Available Wednesday to Sunday, 3 to 11 p.m. in B.C. to connect you with a Kids Help Phone counsellor, on the web or from a smartphone.
  • Fraser Health Crisis Line | 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444 (toll free) – Trained volunteers provide emotional crisis support 24/7.
  • Short Term Assessment Response Team (START) | 1-844-START 11 (1-844-782-7811) – Provides assessment and intervention services to children and teens (ages 6 to 18) experiencing a mental health crisis. Available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends and holidays, noon to 9 p.m.
  • Mental Health Support Line (24/7 all ages) | 310-6789
  • United Way Centraide | Call 2-1-1 – Information/referral for community, government and social services support.
  • Emergency Mental Health Crisis | Call 9-1-1 – Car 67 Mental Health Police Response
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline | Call 9-8-8
  • Suicide Prevention Crisis Line | 1-800-784-2433
  • Suicide Prevention Education and Counselling (SPEAC) | 604-584- 5811
  • Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service | 604-660-9382 or 1-800-663-1441 (toll free)
  • Kuu-us Crisis Response Services | 1-800-588-8717 (toll free) – Provides 24/7 culturally aware crisis support to Indigenous people in B.C. 
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line | 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) – Offers 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat. Available in French, English, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
  • Métis Crisis Line | 1-833-638-4722 – Provides 24/7 metal health support, including crisis intervention and access to crisis programs.

Child and Youth Mental Health Clinics:

  • Cloverdale | 604-951-5701
  • Guildford | 604-586-2685
  • Newton | 604-501-3122
  • North Surrey | 604-951-5960
  • South Surrey / White Rock | 604-542-3900

Other Resources:

Counselling:

  • BC Association of Clinical Counsellors| 1-800-909-6303 or bc-counsellors.org
  • BC Psychological Association | psychologists.bc.ca 
  • DIVERSEcity – Multicultural Counselling Services | 604-597-0205 or dcrs.ca 
  • Sources Community Resource Centre | 604-531-6226 or sourcesbc.ca – Provides support for individuals and families.
  • Peace Arch Hospice Society | 604-531-7484 or peacearchhospice.org – Offers grief counselling.
  • Alex House | 604-535-0015 or alexhouse.net
  • Together White Rock / South Surrey | together-wr.com 
  • Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Services | 604-586-4200
  • FRAFCA (Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association) | frafca.org
       

Apps & Mindfulness Recordings 

 

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School District No.36 (Surrey)