The LPSD has played host to a renowned family therapist.
Dr. Michael Ungar was brought to Lloydminster by the school division to give a free talk on child resiliency as a kickoff to the school year.
Dr. Ungar is the author of the book I Still Love You, which gives parents 9 suggestions to help their children become resilient. He says families would see many benefits if they put his ideas into practice.
“I think what they’d find is that their kids probably develop a little bit more independence, probably better problem solving, hopefully a little bit less likelihood of succumbing to anxiety,” Dr. Ungar said. “That’s what we’re really trying to prevent, is anxiety disorders, acting out behaviours, or kids having to… be really vulnerable. Making really bad choices around peer groups, or decisions about their body or anything like that.”
LPSD Director of Education Todd Robinson says mental health is something the school division takes seriously.
“For the last number of years, we’ve had lots of conversations with community partners, and parents, and staff, and students even, that have referenced that mental health is certainly an issue in our community,” Robinson said. “We were looking for a tangible way so that we could address that concern, and building resiliency was a practical strategy, something that parents, communities, schools can all champion together, and work toward our students becoming more healthy from a well-being perspective.”
If you missed his talk, Dr. Ungar says his ideas are fully explained in his book.