Well-Being and Mental Health in the Library and Learning Commons

at R.H. King Academy

Lois Lorimer Nunn Teacher – Librarian

Ruth Hall Coordinator Library, Learning Resources and

Global Education at TDSB

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Ontario Library Association Super Conference Session 1208, Jan. 31, 2014

www.mindfulnesseveryday.org 2

Core Documents

Context • Stepping Stones:

A Resource on Youth Development1

– Understanding youth development: Cognitive, Emotional, Social & Physical

– Transitions, resilience, & positive supports • Asset-focused approach includes:

– Building on strengths (positive psychology) – Meditation – Core  concept:  “Sense  of  self”

3 1Ministry of Youth and Youth Services (ages 12-25)

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http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/SupportingMinds.pdf

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An  Educator’s  Guide  to  Promoting  Students’  Mental  Health and Well-being

The Role of Educators in Supporting Students’  Mental  Health  and  Well-Being

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“School  is  a  place  where  students  go  to  learn  and to grow as an individual, and it is important for them to know that there are resources available to them if they are struggling with their mental health.”

An anonymous youth

How can Teacher-Librarians help?

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As educators….  

“We need to work together. Mental health is the number one issue in schools today as identified by our teachers, principals, superintendents, directors of education and trustees.”

Ontario  Public  School  Boards’  Association,  2011  

Expanding Learning Commons

www.mindfulnesseveryday.org 8

Together for Learning

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Developing the Individual in the Learning Commons “Quality  education  includes education of the heart as well as the head; it  includes  …cognitive,  affective and behavioural domains  of  learning.”

- Glaze, 2006

Mindful of New Initiatives

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Creating Caring Spaces and Support

Equity and Inclusive Schools

• Creating and Nurturing Cooperative Environments (Learning Commons)

• Building Caring Relationships

• Encouraging relationships between school (library) and communities

TDSB Years of Action

• Student Achievement and Well-Being

• Parent and Community Engagement

• Staff Inspiration & Support

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Build Community with Living Library: Parents  as  Experts  in  “Careers  Living  Library”

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Engaging  “Self”  in  Youth  Development

13 Self/Spirit – Enduring (yet changing) Core Image from Stepping Stones 2012

New Curriculum Document

• Social Sciences & Humanities (grades 9-12)

– Supporting  students’  well-being & ability to learn

– Mental health, resilience & overall well-being

• “Well-being is influenced not only by the absence of problems and risks, but by the presence of factors that contributed to healthy  growth  and  development.”

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Creating a Mindful Culture supported by Library

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Spring 2011: The Mindful Edge ™ after-school program

Fall 2011 to present:

• The Mindful Edge for Grade 11 Leadership classes

• Action Research Study

• Stress-Less Club drop-in sessions

• Mindful Minute – Give Your Brain A Break

Fall 2012: Mental Health Literacy Curriculum

Fall 2013: SMART in EDUCATION™  Training  for  Educators

Looking at Stress

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A.  Students’  Worries:  Grades  7+8  versus  Grades  9-12

What stresses students? 2011 TDSB Student Census

Social and Emotional Well-being Grades 9-12

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C. Emotional Challenges: Grades 9-12

Social and Emotional Well-being Grades 9-12

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D. Physical Symptoms: Grades 9-12

TEENAGE BRAIN

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NEUROSCIENCE: Effects of chronic stress, abuse, or neglect:

– Brain’s  plasticity makes it vulnerable to stress AND open to intervention

– Energy  into  “stress-activated”  areas  of  the  brain  at  expense  of  other  “thinking-activated”  areas

– Quick & strong physiological stress response in adolescents because the prefrontal (regulation) cortex is immature

– “Fight  or  flight”  response  overwhelms attention, impulse control, sleep patterns, and fine motor control

– High activation of limbic system affects perception (Fear Æ Dangerous world; Calm Æ Peaceful world)

– Stressed brains focus us on survival, not learning and development of social & cognitive skills

The Mindful Edge™ Stress Reduction and Life

Strategies for Teens

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Lesson 1 Introduction to Mindfulness & the physiology of Stress Lesson 2 Foundations of Mindfulness: Mindful Attention Breath & Body Lesson 3 Perception & Thinking Out of the Box, Neuroscience Lesson 4 Mindfulness of Thoughts Lesson 5 Paying Attention to Emotions (Feelings) / Moods Lesson 6 The  “About  to”  Moment  – Making Wise Choices Lesson 7 Communication – Relationships: Mindful Speaking & Listening Lesson 8 Me to We: The Mindful Connection Field Trip Interconnectedness – Mindfulness of the Environment

Goal: Empowerment – Skills for being with the ups and downs in life

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Question #1 - Does The Mindful Edge program improve students’ abilities to

recognize and identify symptoms of stress?

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Question #2 - If so, are they adopting more effective strategies when trying to reduce the unhealthy effects of stress?

Scheduled Stress Lowering Clinics

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Stress Less Club Clinic

Q: What’s  the  link  between  mental  health and mental illness?

A: Mental health and mental illness are both determined by the same part of the body – THE BRAIN

> Understanding Mental Health & Mental Illness

Dr. Stan Kutcher and Dr. Sonia Chehil © Dalhousie University, March 2007

> Understanding Mental Health & Mental Illness

MENTAL HEALTH & HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM

> Part 1

Pilot programs to do with Mental Health and Well-Being • Take opportunities for training and collaborating • Work with teachers who have MH as curriculum

Social Workers and Students in Seminar Room twice weekly

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Quiet Zones with Low Lighting

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Mindfulness  is…..

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Paying attention

to your life,

here and now,

with kindness and curiosity

Dr. Amy Saltzman

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Benefits of Mindfulness for Students

• Supports  “readiness  to  learn”.   • Promotes academic performance. • Strengthens attention and concentration. • Reduces anxiety before testing. • Promotes self reflection and self calming. • Improves classroom participation by supporting impulse

control. • Provides tools to reduce stress. • Enhances social and emotional learning. • Fosters pro-social behaviours and healthy relationships. • Supports holistic well-being.

From Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness, A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything by Deborah Schoeberlein

Summary:

• Sit in a comfortable position with a straight back, eyes closed or with a soft gaze.

• Allowing your body to become still, as best you can. • Allowing your mind to settle, as best you can. • Following the feeling of the breath as you inhale

and exhale. • Breathing  in…Breathing  out… • If your attention wanders, as it will, gently return

your attention to the feeling of breathing in and breathing out.

Taking three mindful breaths can help calm your body, which can relax your mind, and help you respond with awareness in challenging situations.

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The Mindful Minute Give your brain a break……

Mindful Minutes • 3-minute sitting

meditation or “brain  break”  School-wide emotional well being…

• Music and narration by students

• Teacher training • Parent Council • Grade 8 Transition 32

Stress-reducing Exercise

More Contributors to Wellness

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Audioclips for Meditation Audioclips for Meditation Stress-reducing Exercise

Calming Corner for Student Well-Being

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Displays with Well-Being In Mind

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Wellness Displays

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Ease Stress with Easier Access

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to College

and University program selection materials

Ease Stress with Easier Access Mental Health Pamphlets, KidsHelp Phone and Community Resources

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SMARTinEDUCATION™

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Stress Management and Relaxation Training for Educators

• Evidence-based program • Addresses skill gaps of educators (K-12) • Helps professional support staff • Fosters calmness needed by students.

Develops ability to recognize, tolerate, and transform responses to challenging emotions through exercises and discussions connected to the experience in the classroom. OUTCOME:  TEACHERS  OBTAIN  A  “SMART  TOOL  BOX”  TO:   • Develop greater emotional awareness • Create more effective strategies for relating to difficult situations • Apply mindfulness training to interactions with others • Improve health and well-being.

Teacher Wellness and Education

Mindfulness for Teachers Versatility of Library Space

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It’s  Your Space Arts and Culture Lighting and Visuals

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Welcoming and Positive Environment Mr.  Wilkinson’s  action  figure  collection  likes to read graphic novels!

Bright chairs warm the room!

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(…  so  we  don’t  lock  the  display  case  at  night!)

Music  In  “Downtime  Abbey”

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Reading for Pleasure and Relaxation

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1. White Pine Program

2. Novel Clubs 3. Toronto Public

Library: One Book 4. Leadership

Practicum with Girls’  Novel  Club

Discover What Your Brain Can Do!

Get to know and love your brain at your Learning Commons…

Mental Health In Mind

Share Websites with Parents, Staff and Students

www.ontarioshores.ca Ontario Shores for Mental Health Sciences: Secondary Education www.teenmentalhealth.org Mental Health & High School Curriculum www.cmha.ca Canadian Mental Health Association www.cmhc.ca Canadian Mental Health Commission http://www.ementalhealth.ca Ontario Centre for Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health: CHEO Ottawa www.hinksdellcrest.org The ABCs of Mental Health www.youngminds.org.uk British site with school videos

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Strength Based Resilience

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• Pilot Program SBR 2014

• 20 Teachers Trained

• 12 lessons / ACL led • School-wide delivery

during Mentor 2014-15

• Evidence - based study

References

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• Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services. (2012). Stepping Stones: a resource on youth development.

• Ont. Min. of Education (2013). Supporting minds: an educator’s  guide  to  promoting  students’  mental  health  and  well-being. (draft).

• Ontario School Library Association. (2010). Together for learning: school libraries and the emergence of the learning commons.

• Open Minds Healthy Minds. (2011). Toronto, Ontario: the Queen’s  Printer.

• School Mental Health ASSIST. (2013). Leading mentally healthy schools: a vision for student mental health and well-being in Ontario schools. (draft).

• Toronto District School Board. (2014). Children and youth mental health and well-being strategy 2013-2017.

Well-Being and Mental Health in the Library and Learning Commons

at R.H. King Academy

Lois Lorimer Nunn Teacher – Librarian

Ruth Hall Coordinator Library, Learning Resources and

Global Education at TDSB

49

Ontario Library Association Super Conference Session 1208, Jan. 31, 2014