Majority of Hamilton students don’t know what supports are available to them

A new public board survey found that a majority of students don't know what mental-health resources available to them at school.

Seventy per cent of nearly 4,500 Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) students surveyed said they were not at all familiar" or slightly familiar" with available resources, according to a release Tuesday.

When asked to identify services, many responded, I don't know."

The survey was launched in May 2022 by current and former student trustees Aisha Mahmoud, Gloria Li and Deema Abdel Hafeez to help guide the priorities and mental-health strategy at HWDSB," they wrote in a letter.

These responses have sent us a clear message: we need to take action to ensure every HWDSB student is aware of the mental-health resources available to them and work to remove barriers and gaps that exist," the student leaders wrote.

In total, 4,490 students in Grade 7 to Grade 12 from 13 high schools and 57 elementary schools responded.

Fifteen per cent reported using mental-health supports in their schools. Eighty per cent of them indicated the services were either not helpful" or somewhat helpful," while twenty per cent said they were super helpful."

Grade 12s and students who identify as female, LGBTQ or disabled were more likely to seek mental-health support, according to the report.

Students say knowing more about services offered, fewer roadblocks" such as wait lists, and more normalized" conversations around mental health - among other factors - would encourage them to seek help.

More than 80 per cent of students also shared that school academic stress has the biggest impact on their mental health.

The survey comes a day after a report by Toronto-based advocacy organization People for Education revealed that mental-health supports are needed in more than 90 per cent of schools in the province. Forty-six per cent of schools surveyed have no access to mental-health professionals, nearly double what it was 10 years ago.

Abdel Hafeez, Mahmoud and Li said survey data collected in Hamilton will be used to inform the board's mental-health strategy and help student leaders prioritize in the future.

Students suggested changes in the school environment, such as a relaxation room, safer bathrooms and a place to pray, could improve wellness. More academic support could also help reduce stress, students said.

We'll be connecting with different student groups ... to continue identifying the gaps that exist and build a long-term plan that is informed by your experiences and suggestions," the student leaders said.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com