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First Community Mental Health dinner held by RCSD

Last Updated Oct 24, 2017 at 10:41 pm MDT

Over 100 people registered for the first Community Mental Health Dinner held by The Wood Buffalo Regional Collaborative Service Delivery on Tuesday Oct. 24.

The RCSD co-ordinates leverage systems, builds system capacity and plans for sustainability in meeting the mental health needs of children, youth and their families.

Both the Fort McMurray Catholic & Public School Districts participated in the dinner in hopes to help students and families connect with other community members and discover resources available.

RCSD Manager Deborah Kitching says this is only the first community dinner.

“We felt as a collaborative service delivery group, that because we look after Fort McMurray public, catholic and Northlands, that people in our community may need some support, so we’re going to be doing this community dinner model.”

She adds that the first dinner was held in Abasand because that’s the area that showed an evident need for support.

“The purpose isn’t just to have a one time event, it’s to basically build community relations with people, so that if they or someone they love, or someone they know is struggling right now, we can reach out and try to figure out how to help them.”

Teachers, workers and Alberta Health Services teamed up for the event to teach skills for psychological recovery.

Assistant Superintendent for FMPSD says the idea behind the dinner is to be sure that families are coping.

“The community dinner approach is one way to get families out, talking, interacting with one another and connected to counselling.”

Deputy Superintendent of FMCSD Monica Mankowski says symptoms in children weren’t noticed at first.

“Everybody made such an effort to connect with the children in schools. Children are very short-term, they respond very quickly to regular routine – knowing their teacher, they want to play with their friends.”

The schools offer sports and activities to help the children regulate and do things they enjoy, but if reactive or unpredictable behavior starts additional sources are available.

“You start to see a pattern, so those children are identified early with their teacher and certainly supported by their school counsellor.”

Mankowski adds that although many parents have reached out for support, they encourage those who haven’t to contact their school should there be concerns.

The Red Cross, along with grants have allowed the school boards to bring in extra mental health support, including extra counsellors, addiction workers and training around trauma.

Noble says progress being made in the community is helping progress in the classroom.

“Now that we see our communities rebuilding and moving back in, we are settling in a lot better.”

More mental health supports within the schools has made it easier for families and students, allowing the student to stay within the building to find the support they need.

Two more Community Mental Health Dinners are in the process of being planned, the next, in Beacon Hill.

If you need additional support the Red Cross is available, as well as your local school.