Edmonton — The Alberta government has reached a significant milestone in its initiative to enhance mental health support for students, with nine additional CASA Mental Health Classrooms opening this fall across seven Alberta communities. This expansion brings the total number of these specialized classrooms to 17, marking a third of the way towards the government’s goal of 60 by 2026.
The newly established classrooms are strategically located in the Edmonton area, Calgary, High River, Red Deer, Fort McMurray, and Bonnyville. These facilities are designed to offer dedicated support to students facing complex mental health challenges, ensuring that their education continues uninterrupted.
Each classroom is equipped with a full-time teacher, a mental health therapist, a mental health aide, and additional support staff to facilitate students’ recovery while they remain engaged in their academic work.
Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams emphasized the importance of these classrooms: “Given the complexities of mental health challenges, it’s crucial that we provide comprehensive support. CASA Mental Health Classrooms are designed to offer integrated services, including psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, registered psychiatric nurses, and mental health therapists, in conjunction with classroom instruction.”
Williams highlighted that these specialized classrooms aim to aid students in transitioning back to their regular classes while receiving the necessary support for recovery. “Despite their mental health struggles, students should be able to continue their education and work towards a fulfilling life,” he added.
Bonnie Blakley, CEO of CASA Mental Health, articulated the organization’s mission: “Our goal is to bring more services closer to where children live. These classrooms bridge the gap between home and hospital, offering direct care within the school environment. Students benefit from individualized group programming, psychiatric care, and medication management,” said Blakley, who has personal experience with mental illness in her family.
Alicia Long, a mother of two, shared her positive experience with CASA classrooms. Her daughter, who faced significant mental, emotional, and physical distress following a traumatic incident, found valuable support in a CASA classroom. “The CASA classroom provided a unique blend of therapy and education. It was a nurturing space where my daughter could both learn and heal,” Long said.
Long noted that her daughter developed coping skills, improved academically, and gained confidence and friendships through the program. “The CASA classroom has been a tremendous success for our daughter,” she concluded.
The CASA Mental Health Classrooms initiative, which began in 2023, is expected to support approximately 1,500 students annually once all 60 classrooms are operational. The Alberta government has committed $70 million over three years to achieve this goal.
Related Topics:
