A shepherd is not a common job in East London, which makes it challenging for us to access the wisdom in God’s word as this occupation is frequently used to help his people connect knowing and loving God with daily life. The personal and individual way in which a shepherd knows and cares for each sheep is guidance for us to do the same for his children, our students. That includes all of their needs.
Earlier this month we had a day of learning for our teachers. A main topic of the morning was mental health as it relates to students and learning. While this isn’t the first time in the recent past we’ve devoted time and energy to this area of our professional learning, it is important for our school as we look to support student wellness and learning.
Did you know that:
• Good mental health is characterized by the ability to learn, feel and express pos/neg emotions, form and maintain good relationships with others, and cope with change and uncertainty
• 1 in 5 children/youth have a diagnosable emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder
• 1 in 10 young people have a mental health challenge that is severe enough to impair how they function at home, school or in the community.
Nearly half Canadians:
- say they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never sought medical attention as part of their response.
- believe that people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior
While we might find connecting crutches with the injured foot as an intuitive way to care for a child, supporting their mental well-being is so much complex as we navigate through potential stigma, perhaps exhaustion, and likely feeling underequipped with a lack of awareness or experience to “take care of [His] sheep.” If that’s the case, consider accessing Shalem Mental Health Network and Canadian Mental Health Association resources as a place to start.
SJ
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