Dozens more Alberta schools to have mental health support classrooms by 2026

Dozens more schools across Alberta will have mental health support classrooms by the fall of 2026 to support students with complex mental health challenges.

In a news conference Friday, the provincial government announced $148 million over two years to the non-profit organization CASA Mental Health — including $40 million for its mental health classrooms.

Eight of those classrooms are currently operating in the province, with most of them in northern Alberta. Eight more are slated to open this fall, including two in Calgary.

Premier Danielle Smith said the funding will ultimately triple the number of mental health classrooms in the province to 60 by 2026.

"These classrooms, and I understand there will be one right here, are an innovative way to support students with ongoing education while receiving professional mental health care," said Smith at the news conference at Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary.

According to the province, each class is made up of up to 12 students from grades four to 12. The classrooms are staffed with a full-time teacher, as well as a mental health therapist, mental health aide and other support staff.

Students remain in the program for roughly half of the school year before they finish the year with transition support, according to CASA's website.

The two-year funding commitment also includes $98 million to build three live-in treatment facilities called CASA Houses. 

Smith says this work is all part of the Alberta Recovery Model, the province's approach to addiction and mental health treatment.

"We are most used to hearing the word recovery when we speak of addiction. But Albertans who are trying to improve their mental health are also on a path to recovery, and this is true whether they are adults or children or youth."

Tackling staff shortages

For Bonnie Blakley, CEO of CASA Mental Health, the impact of the pandemic on young people's mental health signaled a need for change to the delivery of Alberta's mental health services.

"We needed to address the higher level of needs, the number of kids and families that we were seeing, and look at the commitment to being part of a continuum of care for kids and families. We call this work filling the missing middle," said Blakley.

She said her organization supports children whose mental health needs are too complex for them to be cared for within their community, and this funding will help them serve roughly 1,350 more kids in the province.

Meanwhile, Dan Williams, Alberta's minister of mental health and addictions, said he recognizes a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals could be a barrier as it forms dozens more mental health classrooms.

He said he's been working alongside CASA, school boards and different ministries to recruit more mental health staff into the province.

"As a province, we know it's going to continue to be a challenge. But Albertans are capable of chewing gum and walking at the same time. We know we need to move forward," said Williams.

"We're not going to let a shortage that exists internationally prohibit us from getting the care that we need to the students.