A Program running at Portage Collegiate Institute was the focus a presentation to Manitoba's school division leaders earlier this month. Portage la Prairie School Division Assistant Superintendent Mike Mauws notes they had PCI's guidance counsellors, mental health worker, and student Kristen Trimble presenting at the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents Annual General Meeting. He says the focus was on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, a program that's been quite successful at the school.

"It's really been a cooperative effort between Southern Health, and the guidance counsellors at Portage Collegiate Institute to really work with students on giving them better coping skills, and it's really aimed at just improving the whole area of mental health. It's been a very successful program."

He says it was an honour to have one of the division's programs highlighted, and says it seemed many of the superintendents from across Manitoba were quite interested in the DBT program.

"It's always great when you have a program running in your division that others are interested in and excited about. It was great to have our staff out there, and showcase something in the division that's beneficial to students."

Mauws says the students involved in the program, as well as the school's staff all speak very highly of the program, and hopes the presentation encourages other divisions to take on similar initiatives.