Mental Health in Schools Act

I read some really interesting news from the USA today. Mental Health in America reports that new legislation is being introduced by Rep. Grace Napolitano (D – Calif.) who is co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus: the Mental Health in Schools Act. 

As far as I can tell from the news reports, this Act will provide a means to address the mental health care needs of children and youth by providing funding for a variety of mental health related activities, including safe schools, early identification and referral to treatment. Kudos to Rep. Napolitano!

This is what I would like to see happen in Canada. First, wouldn't it be a neat idea if we had a mental health caucus in Parliament – non-partisan, committed to moving the mental health agenda forward.  When I become the federal MP for Halifax, I will work to establish this kind of structure. Second, this Act sounds like it may do some good. Although I do not know the details, it seems that it will provide funding to support evidence-based school mental health programs and improve case identification and linkages to mental health services. 

This almost sounds like the model that we developed a few years ago and have been piloting in Nova Scotia and elsewhere in Canada. This “Pathways to Care Model” has been described in various publications (including an upcoming entry in the McGill Education Journal) and an overview can be found on our website. If we can only improve the identification and referral to effective care pathway for young people, we would make great strides forward in improving youth mental health and advance economic, social, family, civic and personal success through secondary prevention following from effective treatment and follow-up. And our model adds even more – mental health literacy for students and teachers as well!

This to my mind is a good federal approach to mental health. It is focused on addressing a huge need, is grounded in best evidence and has the potential for amazing positive impact – both primary and secondary. What a difference to what is happening here in Canada!   In the area of mental health at least, we cannot keep having smug “we are so much better than the USA” self-congratulations.   Now that is a scary thought.

--Stan