Promoting Positive Mental Health in Schools

Elementary

• B.O.Y.S.
  A best practice, strength-based, social skills program developed for boys in grades seven and eight to increase their understanding of positive male roles, relationships and identities in society, and to strengthen their social skills.
• Healthy Transitions Manual – Halton Catholic District School Board Edition
  Promoting Resilience and Mental Health in Young Adolescents
• Healthy Transitions Manual – Halton District School Board Edition
  Promoting Resilience and Mental Health in Young Adolescents
• Iris the Dragon (external link)
  Provides lesson plans to help educators address mental health issues in the classroom.
• Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (P.A.L.S.)
  P.A.L.S. is a peer-led playground leadership program that encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their gender, size or ability.

Elementary & secondary

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (external link)
  Canada’s leading addiction and mental health organization, integrating specialized clinical care with innovative research, education, health promotion and policy development.
• Junior High Mental Health Kit (external link) (Grades 7-9)
  A curriculum-based resource to teach students about mental wellness.
• When something’s wrong: Strategies for Teachers Handbook (external link)
  A quick reference guide of useful classroom strategies to help school staff understand and assist students with mood, behaviour or thinking problems.
• Supporting Minds (external link)
  An educator’s guide to promoting students’ mental health and well-being.

Elementary

• Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (P.A.L.S.)
  P.A.L.S. is a peer-led playground leadership program that encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their gender, size or ability.

Elementary & secondary

• Lions Quest Canada on Asset Building (external link)
  A link to innovative and well-researched programs, products, training and services for youth, parents, educators, and community leaders to foster Developmental Assets (Search Institute) that all young people need to succeed.
• School Connectedness Game (PDF file)
  An interactive game for school administrators and staff members to learn strategies to improve school connectedness and promote a positive school climate.
• Schools as a Setting for Promoting Positive Mental Health: Better Practices and Perspectives
  A complete literature scan of promising practices for the promotion of positive mental health among students in the school context.
• Search Institute® (external link)
  Organization that provides information and resources on the 40 developmental assets®.
• LionsQuest Canada - The Canadian Centre for Positive Youth Development (external link)
  Organization that provides innovative and well-researched programs, products, training and services for youth, parents, educators, and community leaders to foster positive youth development.

Elementary & secondary

• Canadian Mental Health Association (external link)
  Organization that provides resources and information on a variety of mental health issues.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (external link)
  CAMH offers a variety of web-based resources for teachers and schools.
• Children’s Mental Health Ontario (external link)
  Organization that provides resources and information on a variety of mental health issues that affect children. Teacher and parent resources are also available.
• Halton Children’s Aid Society (external link)
  Organization that provides community resources and support for children and families.
• Halton Catholic District School Board (external link)
  Supports for students, including Child Youth Workers, Social Workers and Chaplains.
• Halton District School Board (external link)
  Links, downloads and videos on mental health and well-being. Supports for students, including Child Youth Workers and Social Workers.
• Halton Family Services (external link)
  Provides counselling, support, workshops and seminars to children and families
• Halton Healthcare Child & Youth Mental Health Outpatient Services (external link)
  A community-based, multidisciplinary team dedicated to the assessment and short-term treatment of children and adolescents who are experiencing mental health concerns.
• Halton Psychological Services (external link)
  Licensed psychologists provide a wide range of psychological services including assessment, treatment, consultations, workshops and in-services.
• Kids Help Phone (external link)
  Provides anonymous and confidential professional counselling, referrals and information through technologically-based communications media to improve the well-being of Canadian children and youth. The organization also provides public education, posters, brochures and wallet-cards.
• HHYouth (external link)
  Programs and services available to youth in Halton Hills.
• Nelson Youth Centres (external link)
  An accredited children's mental health centre that provides group-based treatment programs for Halton Region's children and youth and their families. Services target children who are experiencing moderate to severe emotional, social, behavioural or learning problems, which result in difficulties at home, school and/or the community.
• The New Mentality – Disable the Label (external link)
  Youth-led initiative that focuses on youth engagement and advocacy around mental health. Offers presentations around increasing awareness and decreasing stigma around the issue of mental health.
• Parent’s for Children’s mental health (external link)
  An organization that works with families, the general public, mental health professionals and agencies to provide education, support and advocacy.
• Promoting Mental Health: Finding a Shared Language (external link)
  Video explains the separate but interconnected concepts of mental health and mental illness as well as what it means to promote “mental health” in ourselves and in our communities.
• The Psychology Foundation of Canada (external link)
  Organization that provides various online resources and publications on emotional well-being. Offers speaker presentations and lunch & learns that support workplace mental health.
• ROCK - Reach Out Centre For Kids (external link)
  An accredited children’s mental health centre offering over 30 programs and services. Walk-in appointments welcome.
• School Mental Health Decision Support Tool (external link)
  A tool to help support the school Mental Health Leadership Team’s decision-making process.
• Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services (external link)
  Provides services to children, youth and their families with social, emotional, psychological and/or psychiatric difficulties.
• Yoomagazine (external link)
  An interactive health magazine for young people, parents and professionals. The resource focuses on teaching mental health literacy, facilitating early detection of health and mental health difficulties, and promoting help-seeking in young people.