Click here to See recent article by Dr. Stan Kutcher
I couldn't agree more with Stan's comments...and we do have one area where action has replaced words. If you talk with the South Shore Regional School Board, and staff and management of the former South Shore Health (now NSHA), you will find a great example of success. In this little area of Nova Scotia, students have immediate access (same day to same week) to school-based early intervention supports for mental health, substance use, and sexual health. It is a tiered system that also gives immediate access to therapeutic interventions (school-based) and Psychiatric support when necessary, as well as access to education, counselling, and medical support for sexual health. This is all part of a remarkable partnership between Health and Education, involving true student-centered collaboration among community health workers, therapists, guidance counsellors, school psychologists, school administrators, psychiatrist, schools plus outreach workers, and others, and has been in place for over 3 years. We know how to do it, and in at least one place we have done it.
