Decades of research demonstrates high quality social emotional learning programming improve children and youth’s academic performance, skills, attitudes, level of engagement in learning opportunities, prosocial behaviours and can regulate their emotions and focus better on tasks. Furthermore, children and youth are less likely to display disruptive behaviours and there is a decrease anxiety and struggling with self-regulation and basic social skills. 

Strathcona County’s Mental Health Capacity Building program, or MHCB as we like to call it, is a provincial initiative from Recovery Alberta that aims to help school-aged kids strengthen their social emotional skills and improve their mental health. Strathcona County’s MHCB program operates on a community model and rotates the MHCB team within schools every three-years.

From September 2024 to June 2025, the MHCB program will run in the following schools:

• Ardrossan Elementary 
• Davidson Creek Elementary 
• École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School 
• Madonna Catholic School 
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School 
• St Theresa Catholic School 
• Uncas Elementary 
• Wes Hosford Elementary 
• Westboro Elementary  

Within schools, the MHCB team:

• Collaborates with school staff to deliver evidence-based programs that enhance well-being, resilience, protective factors, while promoting early identification of issues and addresses risk factors. 

• Supports the integration of mental health into daily routines, conversations and existing school priorities (i.e. embed mental health concepts into curriculum). 

• Facilitates early intervention and treatment services for children, youth, parents and/or caregivers at greatest risk of, or currently experiencing addiction and mental health issues.

Mental Health Capacity Building Program Booklet (2.6 MB)

Within community, the MHCB team:  

• Provides a range of fun, free programs for children and youth to boost health, build resilience, enhance safety, manage risks, and develop coping strategies.  

• Offer workshops for parents and caregivers to support children and youth development. 
   

The MHCB program is a provincial prevention and promotion initiative that is a collaboration between Elk Island Public Schools, Elk Island Catholic Schools, Strathcona County and Recovery Alberta (formally Alberta Health Services).

References: Government of Canada (2014) Mental Health Promotion.