Four new counsellors will be available to secondary students in School District 73 this fall as the district responds to growing concerns about student mental health.

School District 73 added the new positions in its approved 2026–2027 school budget. Superintendent Mike St. John told the Chronicle that health and well-being used to be viewed as a separate entity from learning, but it’s become clear this is no longer the case.

“They are inextricably linked. They’re partners in this, and we need to make sure that if our kids are going to be successful in their learning they need to have the mental-health supports as well,” said St. John. 

“Good education cares and good care educates. When the resources are in place it supports kids in their learning and they can’t learn without the resources in place.

Mental health was one of the key priorities identified during consultations on next year’s budget, which included parents and school district staff. The new counselling positions, alongside additional inclusive educational supports, are funded through classroom enhancement funding with an aim to improve student well-being amid budget constraints and rising costs.

“Those became priorities for us in our budget,” said St. John.

 The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a need in mental health supports for adults and children alike, but also forced people to rethink the definition of trauma. St. John said trauma is no longer viewed as abuse or injury, but as any kind of emotional distress or disruption.

Trauma now can be viewed as a child being made to sleep on the sofa because grandma had to move in during a pandemic, or the impact a dad losing his job can have on the son or daughter, he said.

“We all realize the kids who left our schools before COVID came back as different kids after COVID because of their experiences and we really needed to relearn and re-educate ourselves about what trauma really is,” said St. John.

Those in the mental-health field noticed this as well. Elyssa Krutop is a counsellor with Aligned Counselling and Consulting and she said meaningful social connection is one of the strongest predictors of mental health and overall well-being. Isolation is associated with increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and even poorer physical health outcomes.

“Prior to the pandemic, many people were already experiencing a gradual erosion of community and connectedness, and COVID-19 accelerated that trend,” she said.

“For young people in particular, the disruption of school routines, extracurricular activities, friendships, and important developmental experiences had a significant impact.”

Krutop has seen what she calls a significant increase in both mental-health awareness and a willingness to seek support, especially among young people, in recent years. She applauds the district for acknowledging its part in helping youth navigate an increasingly complex world.

“When I asked my own teenage daughters what they thought about adding four more counsellors, they all had the same response: it’s great news because their school counsellors are always busy and there are students who need support,” she said.

“Providing young people with access to support when they need it helps them develop resilience, cope with challenges, and thrive both in school and beyond.”