Recognizing the significant impact of mental health on an individual’s overall wellbeing and quality
of life, CCAC mental health and addictions nurses (MHANs) are helping students who struggle with
these challenges not only to attend, but to thrive in school.
“As a CCAC, we are committed to providing individualized care,” notes Donna Sherman, Manager of
Patient Care Services. “That’s incredibly important with our students, whose mental health needs
cannot be viewed in isolation from the context of their lives. If their challenges are impacting their
success at school, we can work with their school and community to support them.”
Students supported through the MHAN program face a variety of mental health challenges, ranging
from anxiety and self-harming behaviours to substance use, bipolar disorder and depression.
For many, even the thought of attending school is more than they can bear.
“[Our mental health
and addictions nurse]
has created a miracle.
My son has taken
charge of his illness, is
taking his pills, seeing
his doctor, going to
school, and attending
clinic. Her caring and
guidance we could not
do without.”
-Parent
“We work closely with students, families, school boards, physicians, local hospitals, mental
health agencies and other partners to support not only the student’s return to school, but also
the development of a coordinated care plan that will help keep them there,” Donna says. For
some students, the team considers options outside of traditional school day, such as specialized
programs; in others, MHANs meet with teachers to answer questions about diagnoses or
explain how the medications a student is taking might impact their behaviour in class. And
when school breaks for the summer, the MHAN team continues to support these vulnerable
young people through the warmer months.
“Ultimately,” Donna notes, “the program is about helping the system adapt to students as much
as it’s about helping students adapt to the system.”
“This program is very
kinetic, very flexible and
resilient to emerging
needs in our Board.”
-Glenn Carley, Chief Social Worker,
Dufferin Peel Catholic District
School Board
“Partnership with the
MHAN program has helped
us formalize a process to
respond to and support
the safe transition of our
students from hospital
to school.”
-Archie Kwan, Senior Psychologist,
Peel District School Board
