Transcript D-1 Mental Health Initiatives

Arlington Public Schools
Department of Student Services
“Helping Students Access Their World”
APS Mental Health Initiatives
Understanding, Recognition
and Intervention
Overview of Programs and
Services
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Full-time counseling programs in all schools
School psychologists
Social workers
Related services counseling
ESOL/HILT counselors
DHS mental health therapists in selected
schools
APS Initiatives
 Collaboration
with community groups
 Suicide prevention gatekeeper (QPR
training ) for all teaching staff
 Threat assessments for referred students
 Collaboration between health teachers
and pupil services staff
--Breaking the Silence
 Parent education
APS Initiatives (continued)
 Mental
Health Services Task Force
 Transition
 Staff
assistance
development—Mental Health
In-service
Depressive Symptoms and Suicide
Ideation*
10th grade
12th grade
Arlington
National
Arlington
National
Depressive
Symptoms
34%
27%
39%
27%
Attempted
Suicide
15%
10%
10%
6%
2001
2007
Depressive
Symptoms
21%
Attempted
suicide
9%
*Percent of students surveyed.
30%
11.2%
4%
6.5%
APS Elementary Mental Health
Workshops
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Overview of APS Mental Health Initiatives
 Goals of Workshop
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Increase awareness and decrease stigma associated with
mental illness
Identify most frequently occurring childhood psychological
disorders
Encourage effective communication about mental health
concerns
Suggest interventions for the classroom and increase awareness
of school resources
Increase sensitivity to family perspective
“Causes” and Rate
 Factors
that influence onset
 Estimates mental illness within children
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7.7 to 12.9 million children
70-80% receive no services
Typical Misbehavior vs.
Potential Warning Signs
 Considerations
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Developmental and Environmental Factors
Cultural Factors
Duration, Intensity and Frequency of
Behaviors
Potential Warning Signs
 Behavioral
 Academic
 Social
Concerns
Concerns
Concerns
Behavioral Concerns
 More
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Impulsivity, destruction of property,
hyperactivity, anxious/fearful or somatic
concerns
 More
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observable:
inward-turned behaviors:
Sadness, hopelessness, helpless--absence of
emotion
Social Concerns
 Behaviors
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Aggression--verbal or physical
Irritability or crankiness toward others
 Behaviors
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turned outward:
turned inward:
Difficulty or even an inability in making
friends/isolation/withdrawal
Separation difficulties
Childhood Disorders
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Anxiety Disorders
 Asperger’s Syndrome
and Autism Spectrum
Disorders
 Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder
 Mood Disorders and
Depression
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ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder
 Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder
 Tourette’s Syndrome
Intervention
 Classroom
 Effective
 School
Strategies
Communication
Resources
Mental Health
 A Parent
Perspective…………
Four Points
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Mental illness is a brain disease
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School is stressful and stress affects behavior
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School counselors are key in helping these
students and their families
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The Arlington Chapter of the National Alliance on
Mental Illness is a valuable resource to staff and
families
Mental Health
 APS
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School Counseling Program
The Role of School Counselors
Addressing Mental Health
Concerns in the Classroom
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Working with students
Working with students’ parents
Working with school staff
Working with other mental health professionals
Small group counseling
Classroom meetings/discussions
Breaking the Silence
 Knock,
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Knock Who’s There?
Read Aloud Activity: Depression in Child’s
Mother
• Feelings of child
• Changes in parental behavior
• Reluctance of child to share concerns
• Resources available to child
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In School
Outside of School
Arlington Public Schools
Department of Student Services
“Helping Students Access Their World”
APS Mental Health Initiatives
Understanding, Recognition
and Intervention
Questions