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Building Mental Health Capacity in Schools: Early Lessons from a Canadian Initiative.

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Title: Building Mental Health Capacity in Schools: Early Lessons from a Canadian Initiative.
Authors: Friesen, Sharon1, MacGregor, Stephen1, Sumara, Dennis1, Turner, Jennifer2, Mesner, Brenna1
Source: International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership. 2025, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p1-18. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Elementary schools, *Community coordination, Mental health, Capacity building, Medical care, Organizational effectiveness, Cross-cultural studies
Abstract (English): This article examines the early implementation of a provincial initiative aimed at improving mental health supports in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. A content analysis of 60 proposals submitted by school jurisdictions uncovered the organizational and cultural strengths and challenges that influence the development of mental health initiatives. The analysis revealed three strengths: readiness for change, tailored mental health solutions, and strategic leadership. Five challenges also emerged: fragmented service delivery, an overreliance on external service providers, a lack of qualified staff, difficulties in forming authentic partnerships with families and communities, and impediments to establishing an effective organizational infrastructure. The findings highlight the complexity of embedding mental health initiatives in schools and the importance of sustained leadership, professional learning, and community collaboration for long-term integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (French): Cet article examine la mise en oeuvre initiale d'une initiative provinciale visant à améliorer les services de soutien en santé mentale dans les écoles primaires et secondaires canadiennes. Une analyse de contenu de 60 propositions soumises par les autorités scolaires a permis de mettre en évidence les atouts et les défis organisationnels et culturels qui influencent l'élaboration d'initiatives en matière de santé mentale. L'analyse a révélé trois atouts : la disposition au changement, des solutions adaptées en matière de santé mentale et un leadership stratégique. Cinq défis ont également été mis en évidence : la fragmentation de la prestation des services, une dépendance excessive à l'égard de prestataires de services externes, un manque de personnel qualifié, des difficultés à établir des partenariats authentiques avec les familles et les communautés, et des obstacles à la mise en place d'une infrastructure organisationnelle efficace. Les résultats soulignent la complexité de l'intégration d'initiatives en matière de santé mentale dans les écoles et l'importance d'un leadership soutenu, d'un apprentissage professionnel et d'une collaboration communautaire pour assurer une intégration à long terme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership is the property of International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership (Center for Education Policy) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Building Mental Health Capacity in Schools: Early Lessons from a Canadian Initiative.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Friesen%2C+Sharon%22">Friesen, Sharon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22MacGregor%2C+Stephen%22">MacGregor, Stephen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sumara%2C+Dennis%22">Sumara, Dennis</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Turner%2C+Jennifer%22">Turner, Jennifer</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mesner%2C+Brenna%22">Mesner, Brenna</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Education+Policy+%26+Leadership%22">International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p1-18. 18p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+schools%22">Elementary schools</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+coordination%22">Community coordination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Capacity+building%22">Capacity building</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+care%22">Medical care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+effectiveness%22">Organizational effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cross-cultural+studies%22">Cross-cultural studies</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (English)
  Group: Ab
  Data: This article examines the early implementation of a provincial initiative aimed at improving mental health supports in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. A content analysis of 60 proposals submitted by school jurisdictions uncovered the organizational and cultural strengths and challenges that influence the development of mental health initiatives. The analysis revealed three strengths: readiness for change, tailored mental health solutions, and strategic leadership. Five challenges also emerged: fragmented service delivery, an overreliance on external service providers, a lack of qualified staff, difficulties in forming authentic partnerships with families and communities, and impediments to establishing an effective organizational infrastructure. The findings highlight the complexity of embedding mental health initiatives in schools and the importance of sustained leadership, professional learning, and community collaboration for long-term integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (French)
  Group: Ab
  Data: Cet article examine la mise en oeuvre initiale d'une initiative provinciale visant à améliorer les services de soutien en santé mentale dans les écoles primaires et secondaires canadiennes. Une analyse de contenu de 60 propositions soumises par les autorités scolaires a permis de mettre en évidence les atouts et les défis organisationnels et culturels qui influencent l'élaboration d'initiatives en matière de santé mentale. L'analyse a révélé trois atouts : la disposition au changement, des solutions adaptées en matière de santé mentale et un leadership stratégique. Cinq défis ont également été mis en évidence : la fragmentation de la prestation des services, une dépendance excessive à l'égard de prestataires de services externes, un manque de personnel qualifié, des difficultés à établir des partenariats authentiques avec les familles et les communautés, et des obstacles à la mise en place d'une infrastructure organisationnelle efficace. Les résultats soulignent la complexité de l'intégration d'initiatives en matière de santé mentale dans les écoles et l'importance d'un leadership soutenu, d'un apprentissage professionnel et d'une collaboration communautaire pour assurer une intégration à long terme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership is the property of International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership (Center for Education Policy) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191874632
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        Value: 10.22230/ijepl.2025v21n4a1489
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        Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Elementary schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community coordination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Capacity building
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organizational effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cross-cultural studies
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Building Mental Health Capacity in Schools: Early Lessons from a Canadian Initiative.
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              Text: 2025
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