Let’s Talk Mental Health

At the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, the mental health and well-being of our students is of utmost importance. 

Our school board offers focused and effective mental health supports that are available to all students.  Our team of registered counsellors work with students in our schools every day to ensure they receive the support they need. 

Our board also offers innovative supports to help support student mental health.  Licenses have been purchased to allow our students in intermediate and senior grades free access to a comprehensive mental health app to use at their convenience.  Tools like this can be used with or without counselling support.  The app helps any student who wishes to strengthen their mental health, whether they have identified challenges or not. 

One of the most important elements of our board’s support of the mental health of our students is the welcoming, caring and faith-filled environment within each of our school communities.  Each day, staff across our board work to foster supportive relationships with their students.  As we know, just one caring adult can drastically improve a student’s experience at school and trajectory for future success. 

If a student in your home would benefit from mental health services in their school, please connect with your principal, or call 705-945-5675. 

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board would like to wish all the families in the Algoma region wellness and safety at this time. 

MANAGING ANXIETY  

The last three school years have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, lockdowns, and restrictions.  This will have increased feelings of isolation for many.  Social isolation and loneliness can contribute to increased anxiety and many of us have felt these effects in different ways.  We would like to take this time to offer some helpful tips for managing anxiety. 

These tips and others like them are available in our board’s monthly mental health newsletter Focusing on Mental Health, available on our website.  To access the newsletter click here. 

Square breathing: one of the best foundations for all self-regulation, breathing can act like a remote for our body. By using effective breathing, we can slow our heart rate and calm our bodies and minds.  Breathe in for a count of 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4, repeat. 

Journaling: writing about our worries can be very helpful in better assessing and addressing them.  Having our worries written out helps give our mind permission to let go of them.  A notebook near the bed can help.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: PMR involves the tightening and release of our muscles.  This practice can calm our bodies and helps relieve tension and stress.  With many scripts and resources online it can be an effective way to reduce anxiety. 

Catholic Meditation: Through mindful practices, we call our attention to the here and now.  The opposite of anxious thinking, where we often worry about the future and dwell on the past.  Taking mindful time for prayer and religious reflection can help to settle our racing thoughts and provide peace. 

Reverse “What Ifs”: anxiety exists to alert us to a problem.  It doesn’t fix anything, it only tells us something could be wrong.  It’s job is to jump to the absolute worst case scenario, like a fire alarm.  Try turning the tables, talking back to the anxiety by reminding yourself of the possible ways the situation worrying you could go well.

Remember, we all have anxiety, and feeling nervous is a normal and healthy reaction to many situations.