About this Event
*THIS EVENT HAS BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE OPTIONS*
Welcome to The Student-Based Mental Health and Education Summit: Fostering Resilience Through Indigenous Perspectives for At-Risk, Highly Dysregulated, and Technology-Saturated Children and Youth.
On behalf of Jack Hirose & Associates, welcome and thank you for joining us in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. We are delighted to bring together educators, counsellors, therapists, administrators, and helping professionals from across Canada for three days of practical, evidence-informed learning.
Our conference venue is conveniently located just minutes from Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, marina, restaurants, shops, and many of the city’s most popular attractions. We encourage you to take advantage of your time here by exploring the waterfront, enjoying the local cuisine, and experiencing the unique charm and hospitality that Victoria has to offer.
Throughout the conference, you will explore practical strategies for supporting children and youth facing trauma, emotional dysregulation, mental health challenges, and the impacts of today’s digital world, while gaining valuable insights grounded in Indigenous perspectives and resilience-focused practices.
We hope you enjoy both the conference and your time in Victoria, and leave feeling inspired, connected, and equipped with new ideas to support the children and youth in your communities.
______
Education and Clinical Professionals: All education and mental health or healthcare professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors, Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers • All other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers and Community Police Officers.
______
Day One – October 28, 2026
Digital Wellness in an AI Era: Practical Strategies for Educators and Clinicians
Presented by , DCP, CCC, CCS
8:30am - 4:00pm October 28, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Children, adolescents, and adults are navigating a world increasingly shaped by social media, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and constant digital connectivity. These technologies are influencing how people learn, communicate, form relationships, seek support, and experience mental health challenges. Educators and clinicians are often left wondering how to respond effectively while supporting wellbeing in a rapidly changing environment.
This practical workshop provides evidence-informed strategies for promoting digital wellness in schools, counselling settings, healthcare environments, and community programs. Participants will explore the relationship between technology use and mental health, including concerns related to anxiety, depression, social comparison, sleep disruption, attention difficulties, cyberbullying, FoMO, emotional regulation, and social connection.
Drawing on current research and real-world examples, the workshop will examine how artificial intelligence and digital technologies are changing learning, help-seeking behaviours, and interpersonal relationships. Participants will learn practical approaches for supporting healthy technology habits, strengthening resilience, fostering critical thinking, and helping young people navigate online spaces safely and responsibly.
The workshop will also address emerging issues such as AI companionship, academic integrity in the age of generative AI, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in educational and clinical settings. Rather than focusing solely on restricting technology use, participants will explore ways to work with these tools constructively while maintaining the human connection that remains central to learning, development, and therapeutic change.
Through case studies, discussion, and practical applications, attendees will leave with concrete strategies that can be implemented immediately to support mental health, digital wellbeing, and healthy engagement with technology across a variety of educational and clinical contexts.
Day One
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
Digital Wellness in an AI Era: Practical Strategies for Educators and Clinicia
Host: Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS
Info: Children, adolescents, and adults are navigating a world shaped by social media, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and constant digital connectivity. This practical workshop explores how technology is influencing mental health, learning, relationships, and communication.
Participants will examine concerns related to anxiety, depression, social comparison, sleep disruption, attention difficulties, cyberbullying, FoMO, emotional regulation, and social connection. Drawing on research and real-world examples, the workshop offers strategies for promoting healthy technology habits, strengthening resilience, critical thinking, and safe, responsible engagement online.
Emerging issues, including AI companionship, academic integrity, and the ethical use of AI in educational and clinical settings, will also be explored. Participants will leave with practical tools to support digital wellbeing while maintaining the human connection central to learning, development, and therapeutic change.
Agenda
Info: • Welcome, introductions, learning objectives, and an overview of the changing digital landscape.
• Explore how smartphones, social media, AI, and constant connectivity are reshaping learning, communication, relationships, and wellbeing.
• Examine current research on anxiety, depression, attention, sleep, emotional regulation, social comparison, FoMO, cyberbullying, and digital dependency.
• Identify risks, protective factors, and practical strategies for building resilience and promoting healthy technology habits.
• Explore digital citizenship, critical thinking, AI, online information, digital relationships, and responsible online behaviour.
• Apply evidence-informed approaches to online help-seeking, AI companionship, self-regulation, and technology-related concerns.
• Examine privacy, digital safety, academic integrity, and ethical AI use.
• Develop strategies for maintaining human connection and create a practical action plan using evidence-based tools and resources.
Learning Objectives
Info: • Describe how artificial intelligence, social media, smartphones, and digital technologies are influencing learning, communication, relationships, and mental health.
• Examine current evidence regarding the relationship between digital technology use and wellbeing, including factors that may contribute to both risk and resilience.
• Apply practical strategies to promote healthy technology habits, digital citizenship, and digital wellness across educational and clinical settings.
• Evaluate emerging issues related to artificial intelligence, digital ethics, privacy, academic integrity, and online help-seeking behaviours.
• Develop practical approaches for supporting children, adolescents, and adults in engaging with digital technologies in healthy, balanced, and responsible ways.
Event venue & nearby stays
2852 Douglas St, 2852 Douglas Street, Victoria, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.