About ThriveSMH
ThriveSMH and Pros’pairs SMS are School Mental Health Ontario’s student reference group. Members work with SMH-ON’s team of educators, mental health professionals, and partners to make sure that we are providing the kind of support students want and need.
What are ThriveSMH and Pros’pairs SMS?
ThriveSMH stands for Thrive School Mental Health, and Pros’pairs SMS stands for Pros’pairs Santé mentale en milieu scolaire. Both ThriveSMH and Pros’pairs SMS are groups of passionate students who work alongside School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) to help with developing and sharing mental health promotion resources and supports that will resonate with young people.
ThriveSMH and Pros’pairs SMS members work closely together and have similar roles. ThriveSMH is in English, and members are from English-language school boards. Pros’pairs SMS is in French, and members are from French-language school boards.
ThriveSMH and Pros’pairs SMS members are change-makers! We support the SMH-ON team on a variety of projects related to improving student mental health and reducing stigma. We’re committed to supporting equitable school mental health and culturally appropriate and responsive resources. For SMH-ON, it’s important to work with students because it makes the resources, they create more relatable and helpful for students.
Meet the ThriveSMH team
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
10
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to make a positive impact in school mental health and share my experiences!
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is being creative! I love creating things and picking up new hobbies related to visual art to express my creativity in different forms.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, Punjabi, and a bit of French.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
12
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined to get involved in advocating for school mental health and to be a voice for others.
What’s your super skill?
I’m really observant, so I can pick up on things pretty quickly.
What language(s) do you speak?
English and some Tagalog.
Pronouns:
He/Him
Grade:
11
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH a few years ago to learn more about how I can support my peers and educate myself about mental health.
What’s your super skill?
I can play the trumpet and bass clarinet.
What language(s) do you speak?
French, English.
Grade:
10
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I have experienced mental health struggles and I want to contribute to making school environments better for those struggling.
What’s your super skill?
I can read a 500+ page book in about a day.
What language(s) do you speak?
Fluent in English, can understand Italian
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
12
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH because I wanted to be a voice for those who fear speaking up. I’m filled with so much gratitude to know that I am a safe place friends can go to in times of need.
What’s your super skill?
I believe my super skill is that I am a good listener.
What language(s) do you speak?
English
Pronouns:
He/Him
Grade:
11
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I wanted to work with like-minded peers toward making a difference in mental health care for students. ThriveSMH seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that.
What’s your super skill?
I’m the coolest person in every room I walk into.
What language(s) do you speak?
English.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
9
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To make students feel okay.
What’s your super skill?
Comforting others and public speaking.
What language(s) do you speak?
English and Vietnamese.
Pronouns:
He/Him
Grade:
11
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To be the change I want to see in the world.
What’s your super skill?
Talking! I am a super yapper, I can talk myself in and out of anything!
What language(s) do you speak?
English and French.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
10
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To spread awareness of mental health.
What’s your super skill?
Organization.
What language(s) do you speak?
English.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
11
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH not only to learn more about mental health but also to do what I can to help bring awareness to mental health issues and help other young people like me with their mental health.
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is applying my inquisitive nature to everyday situations.
What language(s) do you speak?
English.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
10
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I joined ThriveSMH to be a voice for other students like me who want to see more be done to support the mental health of students. It’s really hard to find resources as teens and tweens to help us be at our best, and by joining ThriveSMH, I hope I can help other students in being the best versions of themselves by focusing on their mental health.
What’s your super skill?
My expert level napping. No matter the time, place, situation, I can 10000% sleep through it and NOTHING will wake me up unless I want to do so. But, I end up waking up just in time for the important stuff.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, Tamil, and a bit of French!
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
12
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To help improve how schools can aid students’ mental health and bring awareness to the struggles faced at school.
What’s your super skill?
Resilience.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, Spanish (B2), French (B1), and Portuguese (A2).
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
12
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
To learn and share more about mental health!
What’s your super skill?
I love to help people!
What language(s) do you speak?
English.
Pronouns:
She/Her
Grade:
11
Why did you join ThriveSMH?
I strongly care about mental health and want to help create a supportive environment where people feel understood and can talk openly. It’s important to me to be part of something that makes a positive difference in others’ lives.
What’s your super skill?
Being highly creative—I can quickly come up with ideas, design visually appealing content, and use digital tools to bring them to life.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, Urdu, and mild French (I used to be fluent!).
Meet the Pros’pairs SMS team
Pronouns
He/Him
Grade
11
Why did you join Pros’pairs SMS?
In 2023, I joined Pros’pairs SMS to expand my network and foster change in my school and community. I have learned many skills that can be put to good use.
What’s your super skill?
I’m blind, and I’m basically a pro at not walking into walls… most of the time.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, French, and a little bit of Quebec Sign Language (LSQ)
Pronouns
She/Her
Grade
10
Why did you join Pros’pairs SMS?
I joined Pros’pairs SMS because I wanted to learn more about health and, at the same time, share this knowledge with my community. I also wanted to be able to give my opinion and help with projects to help my community.
What’s your super skill?
Soccer, bass clarinet and making friends.
What language(s) do you speak?
French and English
Pronouns
She/Her
Grade
11
Why did you join Pros’pairs SMS?
With my personal experiences with my mental health, I thought I could help others with their own mental health. Plus, I love being able to help people, it makes me happy.
What’s your super skill?
I’d say my passion. Whether it’s music, my job, my homework, and so on.
What language(s) do you speak?
I’m fluent in French and English, but I’m also learning Spanish and American Sign Language.
Pronouns
She/Her
Grade
10
Why did you join Pros’pairs SMS?
My super skill is stress management and problem solving!
What language(s) do you speak?
French and English
Pronouns
He/Him
Grade
11
Why did you join Pros’pairs SMS?
I wanted to give my voice in shaping the initiatives and projects behind supporting students who want to talk about their mental health and ensure that students are informed and involved through the campaigns created with Pros’pairs SMS.
What’s your super skill?
My passion for being involved in my community on issues such as the environment and public transportation.
What language(s) do you speak?
English and French
Pronouns
She/Her
Grade
10
What’s your super skill?
My super skill would be my sensitivity to causes that help communities in great need. I work extremely hard to make everyone around me feel comfortable in our very complicated world and to fight discrimination and stigma.
What language(s) do you speak?
French, English and native Cameroonian languages
Pronouns
She/Her
Grade
12
What’s your super skill?
My super skill is that I’m extremely motivated to get the job done.
What language(s) do you speak?
English, French, and Tamil
How to get involved
You have the power to make a difference in school mental health. A first step towards making a difference: take care of your mental health and learn who you can turn to if you or a friend needs help. You can also get involved with activities at your school, school board, or with us!
Your voice matters. To learn how you can get involved to impact mental health at your school or school board, speak to your guidance counsellor, teacher, or principal/vice-principal about opportunities at your school. Connect with your school board’s mental health leader to learn more about opportunities available at your school board.
Stay connected with us
Subscribe to receive our emails to keep up to date with opportunities and new resources.
Follow @ThriveSMH on Instagram to stay up to date with the team.
Have questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to contact us.