School Mental Health Ontario supports a mentally healthy return to school

Last updated: July 21, 2022

This is a back-to-school like no other. More than ever, this fall, students need:

1. Schools and classrooms that are safe – physically and emotionally – and where they feel welcome, included, heard, comfortable, and confident
2. Skills and tools for self-care, managing stress, nurturing relationships, and enhancing their sense of strength and identity
3. Caring adults who notice when they may be struggling, and who provide knowledgeable responsive support
4. Encouragement to seek additional help when they need it, and guidance towards appropriate support
5. Quick access to the right level of service (in schools or community mental health)

In response, School Mental Health Ontario produced a Mentally Healthy Return to School Framework to guide Ontario school boards.  This framework includes three priority supports: 

1. A comprehensive Mentally Healthy Return to School Toolkit
2. Extensive training for school mental health professionals in prevention services
3. System partnerships to streamline transitions to more intensive services 

The Mentally Healthy Return to School Toolkit has practical, evidence-based resources to promote and protect mental health at school. There is a wide range of materials such as tip sheets, info sheets, lesson plans, presentations, videos, and reflection tools.  Informed by the Ontario curriculum, these were developed collaboratively with practicing school mental health professionals and educators in the province. Materials can be customized by school boards to fit with local needs and priorities.

There are resources for:

• Mental Health Leadership Teams
• System leaders
• School leaders
• Educators
• Support staff
• Parents and families
• Students

All of the materials promote a culturally-responsive approach. There are new equity resources, some with specific emphasis on how to respond to anti-Black racism and to centre Black student mental health.

Some toolkit resources will be shared on our website and social media in the coming weeks. Others will be accessible to all publicly-funded school boards in Ontario through our Mental Health Leadership Portal, and will be used locally based on board need. 

Ontario school boards are well-positioned to support student mental health and well-being through the return to school. Our new resources are part of how we work together to support student mental health.