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Mental health a big factor when addressing safety issues

Mission City Record - 3/20/2018

Tracy Loffler believes Mission schools are safe.

She believes that as a school trustee and as the chair of the Mission board of education but, most importantly, as the mother of a Grade 10 and a Grade 6 student in the Mission school system.

"As a parent of children in our schools, and having had kids in our schools for the last many years, I do feel that my kids are safe.

"As a board member, as a school trustee, we continually have been quite adamant that school safety is important," Loffler said.

In fact, before talking to the Mission Record, Loffler recently asked her son, a student at Mission Secondary School, if he felt schools were safe, in order to get a student's perspective.

"I asked him point blank, 'Do you feel safe in your school?' and he said 'Yes!' And I said, 'What does that mean?' and he said, 'I'm not worried about anybody shooting me or anything like that.' "

In Canada, school shootings are a rare occurrence. However, other safety concerns do need to be addressed.

Loffler suggests that mental health is really the biggest factor when discussing safety issues at schools. Whether it's a random stranger coming in creating violence and havoc, or other issues going on with the students themselves, mental health is often the root cause.

"If they (students) are suffering from mental health issues or their parents or guardians are suffering from mental health issues, that sort of seems to be where we get into trouble with safety," Loffler said.

She said the extreme side of the spectrum may be suicide but it's everything from making wrong choices – such as who they are associating with – to whether the student is trying drugs or alcohol, self-medicating or bullying.

"I do think education needs more support from other ministries," she said, referring to the new BC Ministry of Mental Health as an example.

Loffler believes more support in schools will help to deal with the root of the problem.

Although she doesn't hear a lot of direct concerns from parents about school safety issues, Loffler said you just have to look at social media to see that the subject is being discussed.

Whether it be mental illness, stress or something else, there is help available.

There are crisis teams in schools – critical incident teams to deal with incidents that students are experiencing, such as a death in the family or other concerns.

Loffler shared a personal story about how the teams work.

She said recently, due to a computer error, her son's file indicated that he had more than 10 unexcused absences.

"One of the youth care workers actually pulled him out of one of his classes to check in with him and make sure everything was OK at home."

They asked about his well-being and if he or anybody in his family was having any problems.

Loffler said in terms of that kind of proactive approach to things at the high school, she was thrilled.

While the entire incident ended up being a simple computer error, it showed that the staff were concerned and steps were taken to try to help.

"When it comes to student safety and well being our staff, go above and beyond."