low income

lack education

early childhood

development

unemployment

genderinsecure/poor working

conditions

poor quality housing

social isolation

Factors Impacting Well Being

Unrelenting Chronic Stress or Toxic Stress

Mental Wellbeing & Chronic Illness

Social Connectedness & Relationships

transportation

Coping with

Substance Use

‘MUCH HARD EVIDENCE HAS ACCUMULATED THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL

CONNECTEDNESS ARE PRACTICAL PRECONDITIONS

FOR BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER STREETS AND EVEN HEALTHIER AND LONGER

LIVES’(Robert Putnam)

Students’ connectedness to school has been identified as among the greatest protective factors against polydrug use, absenteeism, pregnancy, and unintentional injury, even after taking familyinfluences into account.xxxix

Connectedness in Schools Students feeling of

connectedness was the #1 protective factor against

suicidal behaviour.

Students who feel connected to the school are also less likely to drink alcohol,

carry weapons, or engage in other delinquent behavior (2)

“Social connectedness is the magic bullet. ““Social connectedness comes through cultural and

community development -- building connectedness in the places where we live. That's what we need to be

doing: building local connectedness on a global scale.”Gabor Mate

Thank You!

Suzanne Witt-FoleyKnowing Her Mind

suzannewf@hotmail.cas.witt-foley@ywcamuskoka.com