One-on-one counselling coming to 8 N.W.T. schools this fall

Mental health counsellorswill becoming to schools in the Tlicho and Dehcho regions this September.

The seven counsellors and one clinical supervisor will be offering one-on-one sessions to students.

The new positions are part of a four-year rollout of child and youth mental health counsellors throughout schools in the territory.

The territorial government put aside $1.5 million towardthe scheme inthe 2018-19 budget.

• N.W.T. government aims to put mental health counsellors in schools

Shannon Barnett-Aikman, chief executive officer for the Tlichocommunity services agency, said there are significant mental health demands in the N.W.T.'s youth population.

"It's most definitely a service and a support that's needed and I think it will definitely help, but I wouldn't necessarily go so far as to say that it will meet all needs by any stretch," she said.

"Presently, we don't have that, so next year, in those three communities, we'll have that, and that's most definitely a positive step."

The counsellors will be spread out throughout the regionswith some serving more than one school:

• Behchoko:Chief JimmyBruneauSchool will have twocounsellors, while Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School will have one.
• Whati: MeziCommunity School will have onefull-time counsellor.
• FortLiard:Echo-Dene School will be getting a full-time counsellor.
• Fort Providence and Kakisa:Deh Gh Elementary and Secondary Schooland Kakisa Territorial School will share a counsellor.
• Fort Simpson:Bompas Elementary School and Thomas Simpson Secondary School will also share a counsellor.
• The clinical supervisorwill oversee the counselling services andprovide extra counselling in Fort Simpson, where that person's office will be located.

TerryJaffray, superintendent of theDehchoDivisional Education Council, said thecounsellorswill be able to provide assistance for a wide range of issues.

"I'm not going to say that having a counsellor totally eliminates these worries and concerns for kids, but it could help alleviate them so that they can take advantage of the school programs," she said.

"When you have a lot on your mind, whether it's worries about your family, maybe someone's sick or you weren't able to eat breakfast this morning because you're a little short on cash," she said."Our little kids sometimes, they have issues, and I think that thecounsellorsby providing a counselling service for the kids, it will help support them."