Mental Health
Mental health is more than the absence of a mental illness. Mental health is a state of well-being where a person can realize their abilities, cope with the stresses of life, and have the ability to work productively and contribute to their community (WHO, 2022).
The school environment is an important setting for students of all ages. Schools play a large role in influencing outcomes for children and youth given, the powerful influence that teacher support and peer networks have within the educational setting. Students who have positive physical and emotional health are more likely to experience success.
Positive mental health is the capacity to feel and act in ways that increase our ability to enjoy life, realize our own potential, deal with challenges, and contribute to society (Government of Canada, 2022). Schools have an important job to play in developing environments that assist and build students’ ability to succeed and thrive, and where they can experience hope even when they are also being positively challenged.
Positive mental health in schools has been linked to positive outcomes in children and youth, particularly when schools implement positive mental health concepts and practices (Joint Consortium for School Health). Some outcomes include:
- Academic success
- Development of positive and safe relationships
- Increased participation in recreational activities
- Skills to manage emotions
- Age-appropriate autonomy and choice making
- Fewer behavioural issues
- Positive social attitudes and behaviours
- Healthy lifestyle behaviours
According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, 2021, only one-third (33.5%) of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12 report that they have very good or excellent mental or emotional health. In Windsor-Essex County, 45% of students felt nervous, anxious, or on edge in most days in the last 2 weeks; 29% felt depressed most days in the last week; and 61% report that their life is purposeful and meaningful (COMPASS, 2022). With these numbers in mind, it is important to consider how classrooms and school environments can support and facilitate positive mental health for their students.
Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.
Mental Health resources and supports are organized below following this framework.
Resources & Information for:
- School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO)- The First 10 Days and Beyond: created for the start of the school year, but the information and activities are relevant year-round. The activities focus on relationships, connection and community. They are designed to help students ease into school routines.
- Start Well Five days of ready to use classroom activities to connect, calm and begin your day- SMHO: Resources are designed to help you start your day, whether virtual or in-person, in a good way while supporting students as they navigate and understand this unique transition back to school
- Ophea- Social and Emotional Learning Supports: Resource to support educators in implementing Social-Emotional Learning in connection with the Ontario curriculum (Grades 1-8).
- SMHO- Health & Physical Education Curriculum - Mental Health Literacy Lesson Plans: Lesson plans to support the development of basic mental health literacy and social-emotional learning skills for grades 1-8.
- SMHO and Ophea- Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping: SMHO and OPHEA partnered in 2021 to produce a series of virtual field trips embedded in three-part lesson plans (Grades JK-12).
- SMHO and the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario- Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource: Easy to implement, evidence-informed mental health practices for elementary classrooms (also available in French)
- PHE Canada- Emotional Well-Being Education Activities- PHE Canada: These emotional well-being education activities will help students better understand the concept of emotional well-being and learn strategies and skills that will help them manage emotions and overcome challenges (Grades JK-12).
- Seeds to Grow Newsletters- introduce mental health language and skills that can improve social emotional learning. The newsletter includes activities that educators can do with their students in the classroom:
- Ophea Healthy Schools Certification - (French version): gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school nurse at 519-258-2146 x 1555 for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
- School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) - Social-Emotional Learning: Resources to incorporate into the classroom setting in forms of posters, videos, and everyday practices.
- SMHO- Creating Classroom Norms: To establish norms and to identify what matters to students as a group/classroom (all ages)
- Joint Consortium for School Health- Positive Mental Health Toolkit: Five Module toolkit designed to promote positive mental health practices and perspectives within the school environment.
Empower student groups, such as student council or student wellness council, to actively participate in identifying school needs and develop activities to address those needs.
- RNAO’s- Youth Mental Health and Addictions Champions Initiative Toolkit: Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth based organizations to develop a peer based youth mental health initiative. The partnership resulted in the development of the toolkit to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit, includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips.
- Ophea Ideas for Action: Mental Health- Can be used in conjunction with the Ophea Healthy Schools Certification, or as a starting point to encourage students, to start conversations about topics related to mental health in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:
- WECHU- Wellness or Kindness Calendars: the health unit has provided a ready-made Mental Health Wellness Calendar as part of the Healthy Schools Mental Health Toolkit. This calendar provides daily activities to make positive mental health a habit for both elementary and secondary students. You can use this calendar in your classroom or school, or use the blank template to create your own.
- School Mental Health Ontario- Inspirational Graffiti: Use sidewalk chalk in front of the school or in schoolyard to create messages. Ideas for themes can be found in under the Social and Physical Environment Section.
- School Wellness Bulletin Board - Use school bulletin boards (physical/virtual) to post student mental health/wellness messages throughout the year and encourage contributions from students in form of writing, drawing, or other artistic measures. Here are some themes and ideas for the classroom:
- September: Welcoming messages- Welcome wall (i.e. return to school, healthy lunch ideas, sleep tips)
- October: Gratitude messages- Gratitude moment and/or Emoji emotions
- November: Kindness messages- Kindness wall
- December: Self-Care messages- Inspirational graffiti
- January: Well being, Goal setting- Goal Setting
- February: Healthy Relationships- Acts of Kindness
- March: Resiliency- Stress management- Stress Management and Coping
- April: Problem solving Working together and Being your Best – Problem Solving Practices or Knowing Oneself Practices
- May: Mental Health Month Theme
- June: Positive Motivation and Perseverance - Quotes related to Positive Motivation/Perseverance
- School Mental Health Ontario- End of Day Activity: Stress management and coping activity from SMHO to help students focus their attention, calm feelings of anxiety, and manage stress as end of school day (can modify based on developmental level).
- SMHO- Creating Classroom Norms: To establish norms and to identify what matters to students as a group/classroom (all ages).
- Create a list of acts of kindness with the students. Post this list in the classroom for the month. Encourage students to use words from the list in oral and written communication work, drama, art.
Support in the Community
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit- Where to Get Help: a list of local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
- Triple P Positive Parenting Program: offers information, support, and practical answers to everyday parenting concerns. Seminars and group courses are available for a number of topics.
Additional Support and Resources
- Kids Help Phone: at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- The Parent Support Hub- provides a referral to a mental health professional for free counselling support. Parents can also connect 24/7 with trained care representatives - to get answers to questions/concerns about youth and substance use and provide direction to relevant resources.
- School Mental Health Ontario: Parent and Caregivers Section: Provides information and resources around mental health related topics.
- How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child: Tip sheet about supporting your child at the start of a school year. It is available in English, French, Arabic, and many other languages.
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Mental Health Resources in Schools: Learn about mental health in schools and how to find school supports for students in Ontario.
- Children's Mental Health Ontario: is a network of child and youth mental health centres/professionals ready to help children, youth, and families with free counselling and treatment. They provide care in person, on the phone, and virtually, as well as resources on their website.
- Strong Minds Strong Kids: is committed to promoting the mental well-being of children and youth in Canada by offering resources and information to school aged children and parents/caregivers.
- Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
- Connex Ontario: Helps Ontarians find mental health, addiction and problem gambling services in the province. Call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247
- Seeds to Grow Newsletters- introduce mental health language and skills to help identify emotions, deal with stress, and improve coping skills. The newsletter includes activities that parents/caregivers can do with their children at home.
Support in the Community
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit- Where to Get Help: a list of local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
- Triple P Positive Parenting Program: offers information, support, and practical answers to everyday parenting concerns. Seminars and group courses are available for a number of topics.
Additional Support and Resources
- Kids Help Phone: at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- The Parent Support Hub- provides a referral to a mental health professional for free counselling support. Parents can also connect 24/7 with trained care representatives - to get answers to questions/concerns about youth and substance use and provide direction to relevant resources.
- School Mental Health Ontario: Parent and Caregivers Section: Provides information and resources around mental health related topics.
- How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child: Tip sheet about supporting your child at the start of a school year. It is available in English, French, Arabic, and many other languages.
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Mental Health Resources in Schools: Learn about mental health in schools and how to find school supports for students in Ontario.
- Children's Mental Health Ontario: is a network of child and youth mental health centres/professionals ready to help children, youth, and families with free counselling and treatment. They provide care in person, on the phone, and virtually, as well as resources on their website.
- Strong Minds Strong Kids: is committed to promoting the mental well-being of children and youth in Canada by offering resources and information to school aged children and parents/caregivers.
- Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
- Connex Ontario: Helps Ontarians find mental health, addiction and problem gambling services in the province. Call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247
- Seeds to Grow Newsletters- introduce mental health language and skills to help identify emotions, deal with stress, and improve coping skills. The newsletter includes activities that parents/caregivers can do with their children at home.
Empower student groups, such as student council or student wellness council, to actively participate in identifying school needs and develop activities to address those needs.
- RNAO’s- Youth Mental Health and Addictions Champions Initiative Toolkit: Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth based organizations to develop a peer based youth mental health initiative. The partnership resulted in the development of the toolkit to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit, includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips.
- Ophea Ideas for Action: Mental Health- Can be used in conjunction with the Ophea Healthy Schools Certification, or as a starting point to encourage students, to start conversations about topics related to mental health in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:
- WECHU- Wellness or Kindness Calendars: the health unit has provided a ready-made Mental Health Wellness Calendar as part of the Healthy Schools Mental Health Toolkit. This calendar provides daily activities to make positive mental health a habit for both elementary and secondary students. You can use this calendar in your classroom or school, or use the blank template to create your own.
- School Mental Health Ontario- Inspirational Graffiti: Use sidewalk chalk in front of the school or in schoolyard to create messages. Ideas for themes can be found in under the Social and Physical Environment Section.
Support in the Community
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit- Where to Get Help: a list of local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor and Leamington locations
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling the number above.
- Triple P Positive Parenting Program: offers information, support, and practical answers to everyday parenting concerns. Seminars and group courses are available for a number of topics.
Additional Support and Resources
- Kids Help Phone: at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- The Parent Support Hub- provides a referral to a mental health professional for free counselling support. Parents can also connect 24/7 with trained care representatives - to get answers to questions/concerns about youth and substance use and provide direction to relevant resources.
- School Mental Health Ontario: Parent and Caregivers Section: Provides information and resources around mental health related topics.
- How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child: Tip sheet about supporting your child at the start of a school year. It is available in English, French, Arabic, and many other languages.
- Canadian Mental Health Association – Mental Health Resources in Schools: Learn about mental health in schools and how to find school supports for students in Ontario.
- Children's Mental Health Ontario: is a network of child and youth mental health centres/professionals ready to help children, youth, and families with free counselling and treatment. They provide care in person, on the phone, and virtually, as well as resources on their website.
- Strong Minds Strong Kids: is committed to promoting the mental well-being of children and youth in Canada by offering resources and information to school aged children and parents/caregivers.
- Health811: Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.
- Connex Ontario: Helps Ontarians find mental health, addiction and problem gambling services in the province. Call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247
- Seeds to Grow Newsletters- introduce mental health language and skills to help identify emotions, deal with stress, and improve coping skills. The newsletter includes activities that parents/caregivers can do with their children at home.