Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools
Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools
About Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools
Mental health promotion is about creating environments that promote and sustain positive mental health for everyone.
Mental health is important to a student’s overall well-being. School staff play a key role in early identification and connecting students to supports. Providing education, supportive environments, and resources that promote positive mental health can help students thrive academically, socially, physically and spiritually.
Resources
- Anxiety Canada (external link)
A non-profit organization that raises awareness about anxiety and supports access to resources and treatment. - Bullying Prevention for Schools - Halton Region
Resources to help create safe, positive environments for schools. - Canadian Mental Health Association (external link)
Resources and information on a variety of mental health issues. - 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. - Children’s Mental Health Ontario (external link)
Resources and information on a variety of mental health issues that affect children. Teacher and parent resources are also available. - Emotional Well Being/Mental Health - Halton Region
Mental health tips and resources for parents and caregivers. - Healthy Relationships, Self-Esteem and Living Skills - Halton Region
Resources to help promote healthy relationships, self-esteem and healthy living skills in schools. - Mental Health - Halton Region
Mental health information, tips, resources and supports. - Mental Health Literacy (external link)
Evidence-based mental health literacy information, research, education and resources.
- Educators – Mental Health Literacy (external link)
Evidence-based resources and programs to improve mental health literacy among students, educators and school staff.- Curriculum site (external link) and ToolBox (external link)
Classroom/curriculum resources for grades 4-12 that include lesson plans, print and video resources, PowerPoint presentations, and supplementary materials.
- Curriculum site (external link) and ToolBox (external link)
- Everyday Mentally Healthy Classroom Resource (external link)
Easy to implement, evidence-based mental health practices for elementary classrooms. - Healthy Transitions: Promoting Resilience and Mental Health in Young Adolescents - Halton Region (PDF file)
Curriculum resource that promotes resilience and mental health for grade 8 students transitioning to high school. - Junior High Mental Health Kit - Alberta Health Services (external link)
A curriculum-based resource for grade 7-9 students about mental wellness. - Strong Minds Strong Kids - Psychology Canada (PDF file)
Programs and resources to provide professionals with the knowledge and tools to help kids navigate stress, build resilience, and thrive
- Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) - Halton Region
A peer-led playground leadership program that encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their gender, size or ability. - School Mental Health Ontario (external link)
Aims to enhance the quality and consistency of mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention programming in Ontario schools.- School Mental Health Decision Support Tool: Student Mental Health Awareness Initiatives (external link)
Tool to support the school decision-making process related to particular mental health awareness products or services.
- School Mental Health Decision Support Tool: Student Mental Health Awareness Initiatives (external link)
- Search Institute® (external link)
Information and resources on the 40 Developmental Assets®. - Supporting Minds (external link)
A grade K-12 educator’s guide by the Ontario Ministry of Education promoting students’ mental health and well-being.
- 9-8-8 – Suicide Crisis Helpline (external link)
A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year - Black Youth Helpline (external link)
Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools. - Child & Adolescent Services - Halton Healthcare (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. - Crisis Resources - Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (external link)
A list of resources and supports available in the Greater Toronto area - Family Care Centre (external link)
A resource hub for parents and caregivers of children and youth with mental illness by Children’s Mental Health Ontario and Parents for Children’s Mental Health. - Find Help - Children’s Mental Health Ontario (external link)
Find child and youth mental health services in your community. - Halton Children’s Aid Society (external link)
Community resources and support for children and families. - Kids Help Phone (external link)
Free, 24/7 anonymous and confidential professional counselling, referrals and information through technologically-based communications media to improve the well-being of Canadian children and youth. Also provides public education, posters, brochures and wallet-cards. - Mental Health Help - Canadian Mental Health Association (external link)
Resources on crisis supports, how to get help and helping others. - Mental Health & Well-Being - Halton Catholic District School Board (external link)
Information to learn about mental health, how to get help, in school supports, resources and community partners. - Mental Health & Well-Being - Halton District School Board (external link)
Parent/Guardian and Student sections designed to give you information about mental health, how to support good mental health and where to turn for help. - Parents and Caregivers - School Mental Health Ontario (external link)
Resources for parents and caregivers on children’s mental health. - Reach Out Centre For Kids (ROCK) (external link)
A child and youth mental health agency that provides services to children from birth to 17 and their families, such as individual and group counseling, and walk-in clinics. - South Asian Canadian Health & Social Services (SACHSS) (external link)
Registered not for profit charity organization, providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and social services for South Asian men, women, seniors and youth, and other communities. - Thrive Counselling (external link)
Family counseling agency serving Halton Region with services including individual, couple and family counseling; walk-in counselling clinics; violence against women program; partner abuse program; caring dads program. - Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services (external link)
Services for children, youth and their families with social, emotional, psychological and/or psychiatric difficulties. - Youth and Adolescent Mental Health Programs and Services - Joseph Brant Hospital (external link)
Mental health programs and services available to youth/children under the age of 18 years in Halton.
Mental Health Promotion Activity Ideas for Schools
- Create welcoming and inclusive environments, e.g. establish safe spaces such as a chill room or sensory room.
- Promote mental health tools, community resources and supports, e.g. bulletin boards, morning announcements, posters.
- Provide presentations to staff on Developmental Relationships and/or Asset Building.
- Offer regular staff wellness activities, e.g. staff yoga.
- Incorporate Principles to Strengthen a Healthy School including, asset building, equity and inclusion, and student engagement.
- Participate in Awareness Campaigns
- Partner with agencies like Halton Food For Thought (external link) to provide breakfast & snack programs.
- Share mental health resources on your school website, e.g.
- Invite community partners to be a guest speaker, e.g. Halton Women’s Place (external link).
- Invite community agencies to be a part of Safe Schools/Well-Being committees.
- Provide mental health resources to parents and caregivers (external link).
- Use the School Mental Health Ontario Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource (external link).
- Implement curriculum (visit Halton Region Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools or Bullying Prevention for Schools webpages for a variety of curriculum resources).
- Partner with CYC to offer the Healthy Transitions program for grade 8 students.
- Work with other schools in your community to host a guest speaker to talk to students/staff about mental well-being.
- Start a Well-Being committee.
- Implement Healthy Schools Certification (external link).
- Identify mental health priorities by reviewing local data (school surveys/focus groups).
- Work with School Board Mental Health Lead to provide professional development.
- Work through Principles to Strengthen a Healthy School - Asset Building.
- Offer student leadership opportunities such as peer mentoring.
- Provide student leadership training for student leaders.
- Apply for grants to support mental health initiatives, e.g. PRO grants, Halton Learning Foundation (external link) (HDSB).
- Use the Student Engagement Toolkit - School Mental Health Ontario (external link) for strategies to help support implementing school initiatives.
- Have students participate on Well-Being committee.
- Offer school clubs based on student interest and feedback.
- Offer physical activity opportunities, e.g. intramurals, running clubs, Walk and wheel events - Ontario Active School Travel (external link).
- Run a Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) program.
- Give opportunities for student voice about class and school issues.
- Integrate stress-management and coping strategies (external link).
- Partner with community agencies to offer free opportunities for students, e.g. arena, skate park, YMCA, pool.