Mental Health & Well-Being

At DSBN, we believe that mental health and well-being play a critical role in student success. Partnering with families and community agencies to help support and empower our students and address their mental health needs is one of the most impactful things we can do to help provide a learning environment where everyone can learn, grow and achieve.

Our vision for the mental health climate at all of our DSBN schools is to create an environment where:

School staff works together with parents, mental health partners and other schools to become stronger together by sharing responsibilities and resources
Staff serve as mental health and well-being partners in the classroom and work with families and community agencies to mobilize support and access to service
Students understand and respect mental health and well-being and feel comfortable advocating for their own needs
Family members are empowered to support the mental health and well-being of their children
The voices of students, staff, parents and community partners contribute to an on-going mental health conservation that builds understanding

There is growing discussion about mental health in Ontario and the way we talk about it matters. This video by the CAMH Health Promotion Resource Centre 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.

Student Workbooks for the Grades 7 & 8 Mental Health Literacy Modules

New! Grades 7 & 8 Mental Health Literacy Modules

The Ministry of Education has introduced a series of three mental health literacy lessons per grade. These modules will be delivered by teachers to support the existing mental health literacy expectations within Strand D of the Grades 7 and 8 Health and Physical Education curriculum. The goal of these modules is to enhance the delivery of the curriculum and highlight the importance of mental health literacy.

These modules were developed in collaboration with School Mental Health Ontario. They were informed by extensive consultation with caregivers, students, and cultural and community organizations.

Schools will send communication home to notify caregivers of Grades 7 and 8 students that these lessons are being taught.

For more information about the content of the modules, check out the parent/guardian tip sheet below!

Exploring Mental Health Together: Join Your Child’s Learning

Additional Resources for Parents and Caregivers

البحث في الصحة النفسية سويةًً: انضم إلى تعلّّم طفلك

一起来学习精神健康：参与孩子的学习

一齊探索心理健康：加入孩子的學習旅程

بررسی سالمت روان در کنار هم: به روند آموزش فرزندتان ملحق شوید

Explorer la santé mentale ensemble: Participez à l’apprentissage de votre enfant

एक साथ मानसिक स्वास्थ्यकी खोज करना: अपनेबच्चेकी शिक्षा मेेंशामिल होों

함께 정신 건강 탐구하기: 여러분 자녀의 배움에 동참하십시오

Explorar a saúde mental juntos: participe da aprendizagem do seu filho