The Rainy River District School Board received a rare opportunity following the recent suicide of a Fort Frances High School student.
Counselling services for students and staff were provided immediately following last month’s tragic death.
Education Director Heather Campbell says Education Minister Stephen Lecce also called.
“Mr. Lecce called to meet with Principal (Jennifer) Leishman and Vice Principal Michelle Mosbeck to extend his deepest sympathies to the administrators, to the school and to the board. He did ask if there was something that he could do,” says Campbell.
Campbell says she used the opportunity to advocate for more intensive mental health supports for the area.
“My email did get some traction within the Ministry of Education. The deputy (Minister of Health) and I have had conversations as well as (with) Mental Health Ontario.”
Student Trustee Olivia Kreger is appreciative of those efforts.
“Mental health is a big issue in many of our schools. The loss that happened at Fort High was felt across the school district. I know at Rainy High there was lots of talk of a tragic it was and how awful it was that there wasn’t more help,” says Kreger.
The school board does have a section on its website devoted to student mental health.
It contains links to a variety of resources. You will also find the phone numbers of a couple of helplines.
Click here to access.
