A $2 million province-wide investment in school-based mental health programs is being given to the province鈥檚 60 school districts.
The investment will help ensure kids can access support when they need it and that they feel safe and connected at school.
Each of the province鈥檚 60 school districts will receive a portion of the funds, including the Central Okanagan School District, which received money earlier this year from the first round of grant funding to train 20 teachers in Stan Kutcher鈥檚 Mental Health Literacy curriculum.
鈥淲e are supporting schools to create better access to mental health supports for students,鈥� said Rob Fleming, minister of education. 鈥淲e are ensuring no matter where students live in B.C., they have access to effective and community-based preventative programming that will set them on positive paths to mental health and wellness.鈥�
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School districts will determine how the grants are spent based on their district鈥檚 individual needs to enhance existing programs and launch new programs. Examples include staff training sessions, family and caregiver information nights and development of new resource materials for educators, family and caregivers, as well as student activities.
鈥淓very young person deserves the best possible start in life,鈥� said Judy Darcy, minister of mental health and addictions. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why these grants are so important. They will allow school districts to make sure more students, teachers and caregivers have the tools they need to support physical, mental, emotional and social well-being during this critical time in a student鈥檚 life.鈥�
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daniel.taylor@kelownacapnews.com
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