Alberta government announces more support for student mental health
According to provincial officials, the Mental Health in Schools Pilot program has helped 79 school divisions across the province launch locally developed mental health initiatives in their schools to meet the unique needs of students and communities they serve. The government says these initiatives include and are not limited to hiring in-school psychologists and social workers, delivering mental health literacy programs, and providing professional development and training for staff. Officials say 59 of the projects were set to end in December 2024, and the additional funding is expected to extend those initiatives to ensure students continue to be supported for the entire 2024-25 school year.
“This extension will assist locally elected school boards in their continued work to address the mental health and well-being of students in their communities,” adds Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association.
“Prioritizing mental health resources is essential for students to learn, belong and succeed,” notes Fiona Gilbert, chair, Rocky View Schools. “RVS appreciates the provincial government’s recognition of the strong connection between mental health and learning. Continuing to provide this critically needed funding allows RVS to offer existing mental health programs for another year to support student achievement.”
Officials say the Mental Health in Schools Pilot program will run until the end of the 2024-25 school year. School authorities will then be asked to submit reports on the pilots to help inform future policy decisions to support student mental health and well-being.
Alberta government quick facts
- Public, separate, francophone, public charter, accredited-funded independent school authorities and First Nations education authorities were eligible to apply for this funding.
- Budget 2024 also includes $1.5 billion for learning support funding, which includes funding that allows school authorities to provide students with psychological and social-emotional supports, access to mental health workers and other wellness supports, as needed.
Related information
Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling issued the following statement in response:
“I am encouraged to see the government recognizes the importance of providing mental health supports for our students. The decision to extend the Mental Health in Schools Pilot program is welcome news, but it still falls short of providing the public education system with the reliable funding it needs in this area.
This program only guarantees access to mental health supports and services until the end of the upcoming school year. However, our members have consistently expressed the need for dependable and continuous mental health supports for their students.
Now, more than ever, the government needs to make funding for projects that support student mental health a permanent part of the budgeting cycle and not an afterthought.”
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