Compiled Research References and Mental Health Change Agents
We are passionate about being proactive when it comes to children’s mental health. We have become accustomed to waiting for symptoms for our physical and mental health. We know much more than ever that children can learn strategies at a very young age and have them for life.
This page provides links to evidence based research and change-agents with expertise in child and youth mental health.
What Does the Research Say?
Hundreds of independent studies confirm SEL benefits students … from Casel
WE-SPARK Health Institute Research
What is WE-Spark Health Insitute all about?
“WE-SPARK Health Institute is an innovative partnership between Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital that brings together health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure froREm across the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario, Canada. We are establishing research pipelines to address pressing health issues, advancing discovery, innovation and technology, training and promoting excellence among our health professionals, and engaging our community.” Click here to view the brochure.
Reference: https://www.wesparkhealth.com/
As someone who has experienced firsthand what the power of research can do, I am honoured to be writing for this forward-thinking organization. Research brings us more options and opportunities when faced with treatment decisions. Each person I have the pleasure of meeting is delving into something new and exciting and I’m excited to help them share their work.
If you are someone who is looking for information on research that is currently being done, WE-SPARK is a place to start. I’ll be posting links to my articles as they are published.
Some Bursaries and Awards For KDHS Grads Had No Applicants Last Year
If you know of a student graduating in June, please read on!
There are over 130 scholarships and/or bursaries available in our community alone that range from $300 to $10,000.
Thousands of dollars go unawarded every year. It’s more than worth the time to look at all the options as things have changed in recent years. Essays are not always required. Some allow submissions which include video, audio, podcast or artistic representations. Reference letters are also not required by many.
Specific details about each application are posted for the grade 12s in the Greater Essex County District School Board’s Edsby folder titled “Scholarship Applications 2022/23.” Deadlines for applications begin mid-April.
There are applications for students who are pursuing studies in horticulture, health care, food service or hospitality, entering law or emergency service, science, history, public relations, civics, technology, engineering, math, criminology, law, agriculture, border services, education, business and more.
Taking a Proactive Approach to Children's Emotional Well-Being
What’s working? What’s not? I’m throwing out one theory of my own. We act when we recognize symptoms in our children. When something seems “off”, we seek help. We’ve got it backward! We do the same thing when we make an appointment with our doctor – we’ve had an illness or injury and a reason to call! We’ve become accustomed to being responsive rather than proactive with all aspects of our health.
This world is more complex than ever. Our growing number of struggling children demands an urgent response. How can we, as adults, understand and be able to provide what the children of today need for their own emotional well-being when we weren’t raised with the challenges they now face? I’m suggesting we need to seek out resources and learn for ourselves so we can model for our children. The first step is to admit that we need help to do this.
I’ve seen early years and primary classrooms practice mindfulness or yoga activities daily, children who understand and embrace closing their eyes and breathing to calm their minds and bodies.
As a parent of an adult child who lived with, and has learned to cope with what was once debilitating anxiety, trust me, it’s not a place you can even imagine being in. When our children are born, we have nothing but dreams for them. As they begin to struggle, we blame ourselves and question what we could have done differently. We can’t turn back time, but we can help others learn from our experiences and theirs.
Would the Life Story of a Parent or Grandparent Change Your Perspective?
Just about a year ago, I spoke to my father (then 82 years of age) about a writing platform I had discovered called StoryWorth. He had mentioned after I published my last book that he had written a great deal during his life but never did anything about it. Over the years he had told many stories to us but they were never recorded in any way, only engrained in our memories.
11 months later, at our family Christmas, the book he had finished writing titled, “Pappa Pete, My Journey” became a Christmas gift for the family. It was a moment in time I’ll never forget and I don’t think it would have been possible without StoryWorth.
StoryWorth is the easiest way to record family stories and print them in beautiful hardcover books. I became his “partner” and every week sent him a question to respond to. I took on the editor hat and everything flowed beautifully. We searched for photos and easily added them into the chapters. When my father needed a break, we paused the questions. Dad simply replied with his story via email or the website, and at the end of a year, it became his book.
My father was a child in Scotland and recalls hiding in the bomb shelters. His recollections of the family emigrating to Canada, his teenage years, shenanigans, triumphs and tragedies are a treasure for each of us now. My daughter said, “I’m so happy he shared his journey! I will cherish it forever and loved hearing his story!”
This was the perfect gift and we kept it a secret between us for almost a full year (other than my husband). I learned so much about him and my ancestors. Of course, some of his memories differ from mine. We see things from different perspectives as children. How fascinating it was to have these regular conversations with him over the year. This will now be an heirloom for generations.
On a side note, I wish I had thought of creating such a program myself! It’s user-friendly, holds every entry, allows edits at any time, has a question bank you can use (or you can write your own), and support is readily available.
In today’s world, our grandchildren won’t even have handwritten letters to hold on to for memories. Don’t hesitate to capture the life stories of the people you love by beginning the conversation. There is nothing more magical than seeing them hold their own book in their hands, knowing that generations to come will walk in their shoes.