A mental health program that the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) created is producing positive results for staff and students in Prairie South School Division, the division says.
Amy Johnson, superintendent of human resources, spoke to division trustees during their recent board meeting about “Not Myself Today.” This program is the CMHA’s flagship workplace mental health initiative that is evidence-based and aligns with the National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety by addressing common psycho-social factors.
Johnson explored the program herself before she subscribed the school division to the initiative, she said. The division office then worked with the Prairie South Teachers’ Association to offer the program to educators, although all staff — including non-teachers — can access the initiative.
The program’s goals include building greater awareness and understanding of mental health, reducing stigma and fostering safe and supportive work cultures.
“It provides lots of tools in terms of a unique approach. It’s online, but I also received a physical package of goodies that are handouts and some fun activities,” Johnson said. “It’s meant to make difficult topics easy and approachable and accessible conversations in the workplace. And helping people to find the right words to make that social condition and transform the culture.”
The program’s toolkit offers six modules: learning the basics, working with emotions, addressing stress, building culture, talking openly, and dealing with marijuana use. However, Johnson noted the division focuses on the first five modules and not the sixth one.
The HR department launched this program in the fall and held kickoff events for school administrators to better understand it and use it in their schools, she continued. The department also sent emails to all staff to explain the program and provide log-in information.
The first module focuses on managing moods, how moods affect how people work, and how it’s healthy to acknowledge moods. Staff also have the option to share online how they’re feeling.
“We certainly have been encouraging folks to do that online, but there’s also several mood walls set up throughout the division,” Johnson said.
The program portal allows staff to access resources and print them, including words or phrases that can be turned into magnets. Staff can then attach those magnets to the mood walls at their school.
The division office has also heard that some teachers are using this program with students. Students can wear a button with an emoji, so they don’t have to verbalize how they’re feeling. This has created a more positive culture in classrooms.
One school has printed materials so students in grades 7 to 12 can build a coping strategies list. Another school created a “resiliency bingo” program for its staff, while other schools have used the “Wellness Wednesday” initiatives.
Johnson can review data from the program and see how many employees have used it. She noted that more than 800 people had selected a mood every day by March. However, not every employee logs in daily, so that number could be composed of a small group regularly logging their mood.
School administrators can use some or all the toolkit when discussing mental health with staff, while they can explore modules’ activities by following a suggested calendar, she said. Schools are encouraged to install whiteboards so employees can write or leave positive and uplifting comments.
“Everyone had a difficult comfort level in terms of what tools they wanted (and) how they wanted to engage their staff in the conversations about mental health, but it was an extra tool in the toolbox,” the HR superintendent continued.
The program offers a daily “mission possible” initiative that encourages staff to fulfill tasks. For example, this includes offering kind gestures to others, saying positive words or comments, or writing down three positive things about themselves.
Johnson sends a weekly email to staff reminding them to use the program and work together on activities. However, those who don’t access it online can use the tools she includes in her emails. She noted that she hears from three different employees a month about how grateful they are to have the tools.
“So, we’re building a culture (and) sharing the same language all at the same time and talking about the same thing,” she said, adding she is pleased that schools are also using these tools to communicate with students about mental health.
The next PSSD board of education meeting is Tuesday, May 3.
