Earlier this month, the Ottawa-Carleton District Board staff engaged in professional learning on Student Mental Health and Well-Being. Educators were introduced to Grade 7 & 8 mental health literacy modules, and provided with resources and helpful information to support their delivery of these modules to students. These modules will become mandatory in January 2024 so that every student has access to reliable and research-based information about mental health that is relevant for the adolescent years. As your child learns through the Ministry of Education’s Mental Health Literacy Modules for grades 7 and 8, you can learn along with them and find helpful tips on how to maintain positive mental health and well-being for your child.
Learning about mental health at school can help students to build skills and strategies that promote well-being. It can also assist with managing stress, recognizing signs of common mental health problems, and knowing where and how to seek help if support is needed. This series of three 40-minute modules will be delivered by educators to support the existing mental health literacy expectations within Strand D of the Health and Physical Education curriculum. They’re not new learning – they offer ways to enhance the delivery of the existing curriculum and focus on mental health literacy. The focus of the learning is on well-being, rather than individual illnesses or their management.
School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) has provided culturally responsive, accessible, and evidence-based resources and strategies to support student mental health. They have prepared these helpful resources (PDF) for parents and caregivers, designed to complement the learning your child will receive through the Mental Health Literacy Modules.
To know more about what children will be learning in these modules and how you can support this learning, SMHO has prepared this Exploring Mental Health Together resource document.
The School Mental Health Ontario website has comprehensive information and resources about mental health, substance use, and school mental health in Ontario.