Central Vancouver Medical Health Officer Dr. Paul Hasselback spoke to the Cowichan Valley Regional School Board about concerns surrounding behavioural issues and mental health support for students.
Board Chair Candace Spilsbury says the board is extremely concerned that students are waiting an average of 2 years to get mental health assessments and more information on diagnosis and treatments.
Spilsbury says the board is hoping to raise the issue that there needs to be more support from health professionals. She adds a major contributing factor to this issue is a lack of available psychiatrists in the Valley.
Dr. Hasselback admits that these wait times and the availability of expertise are issues that school districts across the Island are facing. He says its a major contributing factor to a broader problem as well.
Dr. Hasselback told the board that close to 30-percent of students coming into kindergarten are not ready – meaning lots of teachers are having to provide individual support to different students in the classroom.
