. Student Mental Health Congress- Las Vegas | Student Mental Health Congress
Student Mental Health Congress- Las Vegas

Student Mental Health Congress- Las Vegas

SMH Congress
Online Registration Offline Registration Group Registration Conference Brochure ONE2ONE Vendor Demos Schedule

Pre-registration: Nov 29
Conference: Nov 30 – Dec 1
Workshop: Dec 2

SMH

Congress

Speakers

SMHC’s faculty will send you home with an “action tools” that include strategies, based on research and reality, to protect youth mental health as well as mental health of all school personnel.

Confirmed Speakers

Dr. Tra Ahia

School Psychologist

School District of Lee County

Arvinder “Vinny” Ginda

Instructor/Owner

Emotional Intelligence LLC

Christy Berger MSW, LSW

Director of School Counseling and Mental Health

Center Grove Community Schools

Dr. Kevin Brown

Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services

Waukegan Community School District

Dr. Charmaine Hillary

Founder

CHH & Associates

Katie A. Dockweiler, Ed.D., NCSP

Assistant Professor of School Psychology

Nevada State College

Dr. Gia Suggs

Organization Development Consultant & Human Performance Expert

Commonquest Consulting

Hayward Suggs

Executive Coach

Commonquest Consulting

Shawna Rader Kelly, Ed.S., NCSP

School Psychologist

Bozeman Public Schools

Dr. Sean Lawler

Federal Firearms/Tactics/Active Shooter Defense Instructor, Nationally-Registered Emergency Medical Technician

Dr. Robert Lopez

Director of Student Support Services

Kankakee School District 111

Stephen R. Sroka, Ph.D

President, Health Education Consultants

Case Western Reserve University

Darrell Thomas

Dean, Culture and Climate Specialist

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60

Brandon Williams, Sr., MA, NCC, LPC-S

Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor -Motivational Speaker - MHFA National Trainer

Williams Counseling & Consulting, LLC

Tue

29

Nov

2022

Wed

30

Nov

2022

Thu

1

Dec

2022

Fri

2

Dec

2022

Start Registration

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Student Mental Health Congress

The Student Mental Health Congress offers strategies, based on research and reality, to protect youth mental health and the mental health of all school personnel.

Presentations and Panel Discussions Include:

SMH Congress 2022
Protecting Youth Mental Health

Background and Recommendations based on the reports from the US Surgeon General, CDC, the US Preventive Services Task Force, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association.

Background

According to the 2022 CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data, more than a third (37%) of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. Experts say, “These data echo a cry for help.”

Findings also highlight that a sense of being cared for, supported, and belonging at school — called “school connectedness” — had an important effect on students during a time of severe disruption. Youth who felt connected to adults and peers at school were significantly less likely than those who did not to report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (35% vs. 53%); that they seriously considered attempting suicide (14% vs. 26%); or attempted suicide (6% vs. 12%). However, fewer than half (47%) of youth reported feeling close to people at school during the pandemic.

The experiences children and young people have at school have a major impact on their mental health. At school, children can learn new knowledge and skills, develop close relationships with peers and supportive
adults, and find a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and belonging. They can also find help to manage mental health challenges. On the other hand, children can also have highly negative experiences at school, such
as being bullied, facing academic stress, or missing out on educational opportunities.

Mental health challenges can reveal themselves in a variety of ways at school, such as in a student having trouble concentrating in class, being withdrawn, acting out, or struggling to make friends.
Students with ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) may need trauma informed care to help address these mental health concerns which may cause behavioral and learning issues.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended screening for anxiety in children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 18.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association, declared a National State of Emergency in Children’s
Mental Health. The challenges facing children and adolescents are so widespread that they called on policymakers at all levels of government and supporters for children and adolescents to join
together to advocate for children and adolescent mental health.

Throughout the pandemic, many people have recognized the unprecedented need to support youth mental health and wellbeing, and many have taken action to do so. However, educators and school
staff supported their students while facing unprecedented challenges themselves.

Recommendations:

In light of the above factors, here are recommendations how schools, educators, and staff can support the mental health of all students:

  • Create positive, safe, and affirming school environments.

This could include developing and enforcing anti-bullying policies, training students and staff on how to prevent harm, such as implementing bystander interventions for staff and students, being proactive about talking to students and families about mental health, and using inclusive language and behaviors. Where feasible, school districts should also consider structural changes, such as a later start to the school day, that support students’ wellbeing.

  • Expand social and emotional learning programs.

Use evidence-based approaches that promote healthy development. Examples of social, emotional, and behavioral learning programs include Sources of Strength, The Good Behavior Game, Life Skills Training, Check-In/Check-Out, and PATHS. Examples of their approaches include positive behavioral interventions and supports and digital media literacy education.

  • Learn how to recognize signs of changes in mental and physical health among students. Include trauma and behavior changes.

Take appropriate action when needed. Educators are often the first to notice if a student is struggling or behaving differently than usual, for example, withdrawing from normal activities or acting out. And educators are well-positioned to connect students to school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, or administrators who can further support students, including by providing or connecting students with services.

  • Provide a continuum of supports to meet student mental health needs.

Include evidence-based prevention practices and trauma-informed mental health care. Tiered supports should include coordination mechanisms to get students the right care at the right time. For example, the Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) program provides funds for state, local, and tribal governments to build school-provider partnerships and coordinate resources to support prevention, screening, early intervention, and mental health treatment for youth in school-based settings. School districts could also improve the sharing of knowledge and best practices. For example, districts could dedicate staff at the district
level to implementing evidence-based programs across multiple schools. Districts could also implement mental health literacy training for school personnel, such as, Mental Health Awareness Training, and QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) suicide preventing training).

  • Promote enrolling and retaining eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP (Children Health

Insurance Program), so that children have health coverage that includes behavioral health services. The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign has outreach resources for schools, providers, and community-based organizations to use to encourage parents and caregivers to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP to access important mental health benefits. Families can be directed to HealthCare.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov. Schools can use Medicaid funds to support enrollment activities and mental health services.

  • Protect and prioritize students with higher needs and those at higher risk of mental health challenges.

These students include those with disabilities, personal or family mental health challenges, or other risk factors, such as, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and poverty.

  • Expand the school-based mental health workforce.

This includes using federal, state, and local resources to hire and train additional staff, such as school counselors, nurses, social workers, and school psychologists, including dedicated staff to support students. For example, a lack of school counselors makes it harder to support children experiencing mental health challenges. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends 1 counselor for every 250 students, compared to a national average of 1 counselor for every 424 students, with significant variation by state.

  • Support the mental health of all school personnel.

Opportunities include establishing realistic workloads and student-to-staff ratios, providing competitive wages and benefits (including health insurance with affordable mental health coverage), regularly assessing staff wellbeing, and integrating wellness into professional development. In addition to directly benefiting school staff, these measures will also help school personnel maintain their own empathy, compassion, and ability to create positive environments for students.

Why

There is much more to be done, and each of us has a role to play. Supporting the mental health of children and youth will require a whole society effort. The conference will offer strategies, based on research and reality, to protect youth mental health as well as the mental health of all school personnel.

Conference Audience

  • Social Workers
  • School Counselors
  • School Nurses
  • School Psychologists
  • School Psychiatrists
  • Behavior Specialists
  • Professional Counselors
  • Public Health
  • Human Services
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