2013 Videographer Awards Category: Educational Institution Title for entry (for award): Stand Up for Student Mental Health Peel District School Board Teams responsible for the work: Communications & Media Support teams, Chief Social Worker, Coordinator of Student Well-being, students and staff from Cawthra Park Secondary School, David Leeder Middle School, Meadowvale Village Public School Contact: Sheila Proteau, Supervisor, Media Technology Support Services Peel District School Board 5650 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 1C6 Canada 905-890-1010 ext. 2669
[email protected] Submitted by: Peel District School Board Budget: Equipment Rental - $1,000, an amazing in-house media team – priceless Stand Up mental health resources for staff, students and parents, as well as a link to our Stand Up for Student Mental Health Video, can be found on the Peel District School Board’s website at www.peelschools.org/standup.
Synopsis Objective Generate awareness of student mental health issues among Peel staff, students and parents to ensure all students feel cared for so that they are ready to learn and succeed. Research The number of students who struggle with mental health in Canada is staggering. In 70 per cent of cases, the onset of the problems begins before the age of 18, 50 per cent before the age of 14. Mental health problems are prevalent—one in five students will experience a mental health problem. One in five students...every school...every classroom. The alarm bells were ringing and so we decided to act—to Stand Up for students. In education, we have a responsibility to do our part to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student—a moral imperative. Following a string of student suicides (eight) and attempted suicides during the 2011-12 school year, we knew we needed to increase our focus, as a system, on student mental health and well-being. Strategy To use video as a starting point for conversation around student mental health. For so long, education—like all of society—has tried to lay low on the theme of mental health—to talk in whispers. Quietly, one on one. Schools have a unique opportunity to support mental health—children and youth are with us six hours a day, five days a week. We are not the only player in their lives—not even the major influence—but we do all we can to ensure students are cared for while with us during the school day, including care for their mental health. Tactics Prior to the start of each school year, our Director of Education Tony Pontes addresses over 1,000 principals, vice-principals, trustees, business staff and other key leaders in the system to share his vision, and the board’s focus, in the year ahead. One of his three key areas of focus for the 2012-13 school year is to shine a light on student mental health and well-being, and the impact each of us can have on the life of a child/teen. Throughout his Starting Point speech, he revealed resources created to support staff, parents and students in this regard. A key tactic was the production of a video that encourages students, staff and community members to talk about mental health, address issues affecting kids and families, and stand up for each other. It aligns with our board’s mission: We inspire success, confidence and hope in every student.
Execution Planning for the video started in March 2012. It was filmed in May and June 2011. Staff from Communications & Community Relations Support Services worked with the board’s chief social worker, coordinator of student well-being, and staff in media (video production) on the music, storyboard, editing, etc. for the video to ensure it resonated with our key stakeholders. The Stand Up video, like all our videos, was produced in-house with real Peel students and staff. No professional actors were used in the video, and there was a minimal $1,000 cost to produce it. The video is posted on YouTube and directs viewers to a resource section of our board’s website at www.peelschools.org/standup where we have made support materials available. Online mental health resources for students, staff and parents were collected and produced by Communications staff in collaboration with the board’s chief social worker and coordinator of student well-being. Our coordinator of student well-being liaised with a number of local mental health agencies to ensure resources were up-to-date and relevant to the appropriate audiences. The resources are available at www.peelschools.org/standup. Evaluation Since its release, we’ve received over 5,500 views on YouTube, much media attention (over 3 million impressions), and numerous messages of thanks and support from the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention who will be presenting the board with their 2012 Media Award for our Stand Up video, the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, Kids Help Phone and other mental health organizations and agencies from across Canada. See the attached results for details. But more important that the recognition we’ve received from media and mental health agencies are the messages of appreciation we’ve received from staff and families affected by mental health. Here’s a message received from the principal of Sandalwood Heights Secondary School after showing the video to her students—three Sandalwood Heights students tragically took their lives last year: The students clapped at the end and seemed very thoughtful. They sat quietly at the end and waited to be dismissed. The secondary example was perfect—exactly what we see actually happening. The music was good and it was not too long or preachy. It was diverse in terms of background, jobs, ages. Staff liked the fact the responsibility was distributed and that students need to be part of the solution. We asked the students to support each other and then showed the video and we think it sent a powerful message. Probably more powerful because the actors did not speak. The simplicity was really important. One of the most difficult things about last year was the feeling of powerlessness and the video gave a message of hope and change. A parent volunteer at another Peel high school said: While the video ran you could have heard a pin drop. Media-hardened, 2012 teenagers got the message. They seemed to be particularly impacted by the late-night-texting, next-morning sequence leading into the cafeteria. There was no ignoring the credibility and authenticity of the filming. Young people related.
