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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 1, 20 18 | 10 Ontario's student trust- ees believe the need for bet- ter mental health resourc- es and training at schools is so great they hope to make it an issue in the provincial election this year. With five months until voters go to the polls, mem- bers of the Ontario Student Trustees' Association (OS- TA-AECO) have done their homework well before deadline. Student well-being and mental health supports were a central part of the "student platform" they will roll out at Queen's Park Jan. 10 on behalf of the two million students they represent at Ontario's pub- lic and Catholic school boards. "We hear students talk- ing about it all the time," says association president Dasha Metropolitansky, a Grade 12 student at White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville. She is in her sec- ond term as a student trust- ee with the Halton public school board. The platform, which in- cludes 16 recommenda- tions, calls on the govern- ment to mandate and fund suicide intervention and mental health training programs for high school staff and students across the province, at a time of unprecedented demand for services among children and youth. Metropolitansky said the message trustees have been hearing on the ground was backed up by results of an OSTA survey conducted in November, in which three-quarters of the 8,230 student respon- dents from 62 Ontario boards rated their school's mental health resources as ineffective, while two- thirds said they were inac- cessible. The student platform is a new initiative "created by students for students" and trustees now hope major political parties will incor- porate the 16 recommenda- tions into their own educa- tion platforms during the campaign, she said. The 22-page document draws on the November student survey, with rec- ommendations focused on student well-being, equita- ble access to programs and the need to teach practical skills critical to 21st-centu- ry learning. Recommendations also include: . Giving students the right to form a well-being club or committee in every school, and providing men- tal health training pro- grams for youth. . Mandating and fund- ing breakfast programs for all schools. . Testing or screening all students in grades 1, 4 and 8 transition years to identify exceptional learning needs. . More steps to ensure all students with the legal right to special education accommodations receive them. . More funding for guid- ance counsellors, and re- quiring that all be trained in suicide intervention. Themes of the platform echo some of the findings in the association's 2017 survey of students, parents and educators released in December, which raised alarm about the lack of mental health resources. Youth also want train- ing in other life skills that are relevant to any work- place, says Metropolitan- sky, which is why the plat- form calls for all students to receive training in tech- nological literacy as well as basic CPR and First Aid, self-defence and conflict resolution. It also recommends co- op credits that provide workplace exposure be changed from "open level" courses to "mixed level" so they are recognized as credits on post-secondary applications. "The comment we hear from students and our peers is 'we feel like what we're learning is discon- nected from real life and can't necessarily be ap- plied outside the class- room,'" she said .- Torstar Network NEWS Student trustees association urges government to expand school mental health services Oakville trustee discusses student platform ANDREA GORDON White Oaks Secondary School student Dasha Metropolitansky. Chris So / Toronto Star Locally owned & operated by neighbours you've known & trusted for over 40 years! * See store for detailscarpetone.com 26 Guelph St, Georgetown • 905-877-9896 We guarantee* you'll love the results. VISIT US For Outstanding Service Quality Products & Certified Installation Let us fLoor you CALL US FOR YOUR FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATE Platinum 2 Halton Hills Platinum 2017 Halton Hills with our great selection of Hardwood, Carpet, Tile, Vinyl, Laminate, Area Rugs & More!