The beginning of a brand new year is the perfect time to refocus our energy and set goals for the coming 12 months.
But whether it鈥檚 to quit smoking or lose weight, New Year鈥檚 resolutions tend, for obvious reasons, to focus on the aspects of our well being over which we have the most control 鈥� the physical.
Mental health is a little bit trickier. Like any disease, it often requires outside help to diagnose and treat. But unlike a broken arm or an open wound, there鈥檚 no straightforward way to fix a mind that is in pain. That makes it no less critical.
So it鈥檚 good to hear that the mental health of 91原创鈥檚 young people is on the radar for trustees of the 91原创 School district.
Board trustees started the conversation about students鈥� mental health and wellness at their most recent meeting in early December 鈥� acknowledging it is a serious issue and one with symptoms that begin to manifest early.
As trustee Alison McVeigh noted, it鈥檚 a subject the board wasn鈥檛 discussing even two years ago.
School is of course the place where teenagers spend the largest chunk of their time surrounded by peers, giving teachers and other school staff the opportunity to observe how they behave and interact and to detect any telling changes in an individual over a period of time.
While it鈥檚 right to say the district has a role in identifying young people who are struggling with mental health issues 鈥� anxiety and depression chief among them 鈥� it is not up to schools to single handedly address the problem.
鈥淭he school district can鈥檛 solve everyone鈥檚 mental wellness challenges,鈥� said assistant superintendent Claire Guy 鈥淐ounsellors can help in the short term but they are not meant to be a student鈥檚 personal therapist.鈥�
Educators must work to reduce the stigma attached to mental health and support services must be in place when they鈥檙e needed.
That鈥檚 where the province comes in.
Parents across B.C. have been calling on regional health authorities to do more for youth struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental health issues, including psychotic episodes.
A shortage of beds for youths in need of psychiatric treatment had an Abbotsford mother pleading with the Fraser Health Authority at a 91原创 conference last September to do more for her troubled daughter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great there are seven beds in Surrey, but what about Abbotsford, what about 91原创 and all the other communities?鈥� she asked .
Good question. Perhaps 2016 will provide a few more answers.
