Mental health literacy in Nova Scotia's education system: 15 years after the evergreen framework.

Abstract

This study examined the current state of mental health literacy (MHL)-related educator training, certification, and policy in Nova Scotia, Canada. It addressed three research questions: (i) How has Nova Scotia's educational policy landscape responded to the Evergreen Framework's (EF's) strategic directions? (ii) What are the strengths and gaps in current MHL-related policies? (iii) What sources of MHL training are available to preservice educators through Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and early childhood education (ECE) programs and to in-service educators through Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs and professional development (PD). A deductive content analysis was used to evaluate the alignment of provincial policies with the EF. An environmental scan and systematic analysis were conducted across ECE, B.Ed., and M.Ed. programs, as well as PD offerings and curriculum content. Findings indicate that while aspects of MHL are embedded within inclusive education policies and select course offerings, explicit training in MHL is limited and inconsistently implemented. PD opportunities and regional education center resources vary widely, and MHL competencies are not mandated for certification. The study provides recommendations for policy and training reform.