Bored and isolated students are spending too many hours online and some have started using more substances, but all students will need extra emotional support when classes resume, says a psychiatrist who specializes in youth mental health.

Dr. Shimi Kang said that while teens typically question authority and act impulsively some are now self-medicating with substances or ignoring physical distancing measures as a way to deal with anxiety resulting from the pandemic.

91裸聊视频淚 would encourage schools to start with social emotional programming and talk about things like coping skills right in that first week going back, talk about what coping skills people used at home, what they can do now as they91裸聊视频檙e reintegrating,91裸聊视频� said Kang, a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 department of psychiatry.

She said academics will have to take a back seat to allowing students to express their thoughts and emotions as part of so-called social emotional learning that is already part of many curriculums across the country as a way to teach students to manage their emotions, learn empathy and compassion and to build resilience as part of a life-long practice.

That type of learning, which is separate from providing mental health supports, may involve students91裸聊视频� response to what91裸聊视频檚 happening in their community or around the world and being aware of how they would cope with certain situations, Kang said.

91裸聊视频淚f there91裸聊视频檚 anything that this pandemic has shown, it is that life skills get us through. It is the adaptability, the resiliency, the communication skills, the emotional regulation skills, the ability to problem solve and have optimism in the face of difficulty. That91裸聊视频檚 where we need to put our focus.91裸聊视频�

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It91裸聊视频檚 no longer good enough for schools to jam in a lesson on social emotional learning to meet the criteria, she said, advising that it should be incorporated into the overall kindergarten-to-Grade 12 curriculum.

Chris Markham, executive director of the non-profit Ontario Physical and Health Education Association, said part of the response to COVID-19 should involve a plan for all provinces to strengthen the social emotional learning components of their curriculums.

91裸聊视频淭he broader conversation pre-COVID was still on strengthening this curriculum 91裸聊视频� B.C.91裸聊视频檚, Alberta91裸聊视频檚, Ontario91裸聊视频檚, they91裸聊视频檝e all got it somewhere,91裸聊视频� he said of most jurisdictions across the country.

91裸聊视频淎t this point in time maybe the shiny coin in all of this is how important all those skills are to enabling kids to be resilient and for them to thrive, sometimes in situations that are completely out of their control. This should be a wake-up call to us,91裸聊视频� Markham said.

91裸聊视频淩ight now, we91裸聊视频檙e trying to facilitate a conversation with the province about doing that,91裸聊视频� Markham said of Ontario, adding he recently discussed the importance of students91裸聊视频� well-being with Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

Lecce said in a tweet on April 30 that he91裸聊视频檇 spoken with Markham about 91裸聊视频漮ur strong commitment to supporting the health and well-being of every Ontario student through COVID-19.91裸聊视频�

Ontario91裸聊视频檚 Ministry of Education said in an email it has heard from parents and various groups 91裸聊视频渨ho have told us to prioritize well-being and mental health of our students. In collaboration with our education sector partners, we will continue to prioritize well-being and mental health when discussing the transition back to school.91裸聊视频�

Shelley Morse, president of the Canadian Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation, said teachers should be prepared to provide 91裸聊视频渢rauma-informed practices91裸聊视频� in response to students91裸聊视频� needs, especially those who may be living in fear from having witnessed domestic violence or experienced food shortages during the pandemic.

91裸聊视频淲e have to make sure that when they come back, we91裸聊视频檙e ready to debrief and deal with those situations and worry about the content at a later time,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e know we91裸聊视频檙e going to have students with trauma, even trauma from going back into the classroom with all the unknowns.91裸聊视频�

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So far, only Quebec has announced plans to reopen schools in mid-May for primary students.

Morse said it91裸聊视频檚 hard to know how younger children will react to seeing teachers in personal protective equipment, if they choose to wear it, as well as not being permitted to get close to the classmates they haven91裸聊视频檛 seen in two months.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 a little concerned about Quebec,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not sure that they91裸聊视频檝e had proper time for that return to school.91裸聊视频�

The Ministry of Education in Quebec said in a statement that teachers would be vigilant in providing support to students who need it.

91裸聊视频淭his increased vigilance will also help detect students who have experienced trauma and those who will develop symptoms after returning to class,91裸聊视频� it said.

British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 ministry said in an email that its social emotional learning program, called Core Competencies, is a central foundation of the curriculum.

Camille Bains, The Canadian Press

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