Connected communities build resilient youth
Youth build resilience by experiencing and overcoming life stressors. Youth who feel a sense of belonging to their community and/or school environment believe that resources are available to them to help them cope. Social supports and structures protect youth from the negative consequences of stress and help them build resilience.
Connected youth have better learning outcomes
Research connects a sense of belonging and engagement with student outcomes, academically and socially; that is, the more engaged and connected students feel to their school, to a positive peer group, and to community, the better the outcomes.
Connected communities experience less crime
Building a sense of connection and belonging amongst community members can contribute to a reduction in crime rates. Community safety supports good health and belonging during youth development.
Connected youth are less likely to become involved in gangs
Risk factors for gang involvement include: limited attachment to the community, lack of connection to cultural identity and lack of friends, personal support and sense of belonging. Youth who have strong family bonds, a positive peer group and grow up in a positive social environment are less likely to become involved in gangs.
Community connectedness improves overall physical and mental health
Strong social connections help people recover more quickly from life stressors. If stress is not properly managed, it can create negative side effects. Stress triggers inflammation, headaches, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, weight gain, depression, problems remembering or concentrating and sleep problems. Additionally, a sense of belonging is linked to the likelihood of making positive behaviour changes related to health.
Positive attitudes and beliefs towards substance use and mental health create safer learning environments
School strategies aimed at substance use and mental health have the ability to reduce the burden to the teacher in the classroom.
Reduced stigma towards mental health disorders increases student uptake to mental health supports
Schools that prioritize the de-stigmatization of mental health disorders will see increase uptake on the supports that they offer or refer to in the community
Connection to Peers
Shifting attitudes and beliefs regarding substance use
Connection to healthy relationships
Communication skills and self-advocacy increase youth’s ability to access mental health services and ask for help.
Building healthy relationships
Youth with positive peer influences are less likely to be involved in the justice system
Connection to healthy eating, active living and mental health
As a team within AHS, the public health nurses strive to increase the health and wellness of the students and families in their assigned schools.
The Public Health Nurses are an excellent contact point for the school to become acquainted and in turn work with CHPS.
Connection to student development
Typically mental health issues emerge when people are young — half of all mental disorders emerge by the time people are 14 years old and three quarters by 25years old – the same period when most kids are involved in education
Increasing a person’s opportunity and choices in life, promoting mental health and wellbeing as a core role in education helps student flourish in their educational journey and develops protective factors to increase positive mental health.
Provide students with skills and confidence to self-seek help for early intervention.
Connection to Learning Potential
Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Mental health is a state of wellbeing where students and families can meet their learning potential, and cope with daily and peer stresses
Programming delivered that would facilitate a positive change in the learning environment to enable students to flourish
Connection to Inclusion
Individuals living with mental illness or who are not living a mentally healthy life are at higher risk of encountering law enforcement or fitting in with societal norms
Connection to community organization
Increasing positive mental health produces engaged citizens who feel connected to their community
Empowerment and participation help support and strengthen protective factors, lessen risk factors and build on social determinants of health that often if depleted contribute to increased crime or community disorganization
