Healthy Teachers, Healthy Schools: Pre-service teachers’ experiences of a comprehensive school health programme in Canada

Objectives and Setting: Student physical and psychosocial health is an area of concern in Canadian schools, as poor health can be a disrupting factor to both academic performance and quality of life. The Comprehensive School Health (CSH) approach is an internationally recognised framework that can promote student health and academic outcomes in post-secondary settings. However, it is not known how the CSH framework can be embedded within post-secondary institutions. The objective of this study was to explore pre-service teachers’ experiences of CSH at the newly implemented ‘Healthy Teachers, Healthy Schools’ Symposium in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Design and Methods: Senior level students ( n = 26) participated in focus group activities on the topic of CSH at the university. Notes and information about the topic were documented on charts, sticky notes and drawings. All data were compiled and thematically analysed. Results: Three themes were identified: (a) opportunities for personal and professional growth; (b) connections and student-centred instruction; and (c) physical spaces and places of wellness. Our results demonstrate tangible outcomes at the faculty/programme, instructor and student levels in successfully developing CSH. Conclusion: Embedding CSH in a university setting can create a safe, healthy, welcoming and affirming community in which students can develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding to support health and well-being in various contexts, for the self and for others.