Renee Knapp, creating a community-wide approach to Mental Health & Wellbeing

"My name is Renee Knapp and I am an independent consultant working with people to make effective change through positive action in the areas of student behaviour, mental health and wellbeing and community approaches to mental health. I have over 20 years experience in Education as a Level 3 Classroom Teacher and as a Deputy Principal. I was one of 3 finalists in the 2019 Regional Community & Achievement Awards: Curtin Teacher Excellence Award and one of 4 finalists in the 2019 WA Premier's Primary Teacher of the Year Award. I am also the Chair and co-founder of a Community Based Mental Health Action Team and have recently been announced as a finalist in the WA Spirit of Volunteering awards. I am a strong advocate for utilising a community approach to mental health by working collaboratively across government and private sectors to make real change happen for both our youth and the wider community. I have recently worked with the WA Mental Health Commission to write a Community Wellbeing Plan that is currently being shared with other communities in the area as a model of success. I have also presented this model across various platforms including the 2021 Mental Health Services Conference and the 2020 Australian & Rural Mental Health Symposium. For too long, education, health and law enforcement have worked in isolation when managing mental health issues. Yet each of these sectors play a preventative, intervention or supportive role in communities when it comes to mental health. I have seen the significant benefits of a community model at an educational level as it allows schools to look beyond their school walls and make change happen by utilising protective strategies, support services and opportunities for belonging and connection in the wider community. This community model for mental health improvement, can not only benefit the youth, but also allows for targeted planning and improvements in mental health across the whole community. I now use my Think Effective consultancy business to help schools, individuals and groups to create effective improvement in their unique setting through community mental health approaches or school wide behaviour or mental health initiatives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.