School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO)

SMHO works with Ontario school districts to support student mental health and build student resiliency. This support is provided through evidence-based leadership and coordination, resources, and implementation coaching support. Their website contains a variety of resources for families, educators, school administrators and students. To learn more about SMHO, and to view their resources, please visit: www.smho-smso.ca

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.

Whether by phone, text, mobile app or through our website, you can connect with them whenever you want, however you want.

Here are the ways you can reach out to Kids Help Phone now:

Here are some other resources you can use to find support:

Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, they are there to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7.

Lung Health Foundation

Recently, the CDSBEO teamed up with the Lung Health Foundation to bring important messages about youth vaping and cannabis use to our community of parents/educators and students.

Parent & Educator Webinar:

Student Webinar:

jack.org Youth Mental Health Resource Hub

Kids Help Phone has seen an unprecedented surge of young people feeling more stressed than usual reaching out during this global pandemic. With information on mental health scattered all over the internet, finding accurate information and appropriate resources can be hard. Jack.org, School Mental Health Ontario and Kids Help Phone have partnered to bring you all the information needed in one easy-to-access hub so that youth mental health remains top of mind, and our communities are able to easily access the education, tools, support and reliable information they need. Visit: jack.org

Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CCAF) – Free Virtual Addiction Counselling Services

The Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) is currently offering free, one on one counselling sessions via video, phone, and online chat. CACCF is a not for profit Ontario registered organization that has been in operation for 39 years. The CACCF promotes, certifies and monitors the competency of addiction specific counsellors in Canada using current and effective practices, which are internationally recognized. Visit their website for details at: www.caccf.live.clinic/

Center for Parent and Teen Communication

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication offers practical, science-based strategies for strengthening family connections and building youth prepared to thrive. Their multimedia content is rooted in decades of research on effective parenting and strengths-based communication techniques, and covers a range of topics geared towards promoting teens to become their best selves. Their materials can be accessed through articles, videos, podcasts, interviews, and a popular “Parenting in 100 Words” series. Full details available at: https://parentandteen.com

Checkered Flags

The Checkered Flags Document is a resource developed to assist professionals in responding effectively to various issues that impact on student mental health and well-being, as well as increase the level of awareness and access to effective supports and services. The document provides general information, characteristics, available support agencies as well as practical Action Strategies for all professionals involved.

For more information, please visit www.checkeredflags.ca.

Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario (PLEO)

PLEO is a non-profit family support organization for parents and caregivers whose children, up to the age of 24, are dealing with mental health and/or addiction challenges. They are staffed with parents who also have supported their own children with these challenges – they have travelled this journey. They understand the challenges and the stresses on families but they also know there is hope, recovery is possible and they know first-hand that parents and caregivers play a significant role. Children and youth with good family support have better outcomes. Families also need support to be the supporters and advocates their children’s need. No parent should feel alone. PLEO offers a telephone support line, support groups and 1-on-1 support to families in most of our schools (the telephone support line is available to all of our schools). For more information about these services, please visit: www.pleo.on.ca

Centre for Humane Technology – Take Control

This online guide offers important steps you can take right now to increase your well being and regain control of technology. Start with your own devices and invite friends or family to join you. Collective individual actions are creating a powerful growing movement.

Visit: www.humanetech.com/take-control

Positive Parenting Program: Triple P

Triple P is a parenting program, but it doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. It’s more like a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you need. You choose the way you want to use them. It’s all about making Triple P work for you. Because all families are different, Triple P has a range of ways to offer this positive parenting program. Choose anything from single visit consultations to public seminars; group courses to private sessions. You can even do Triple P Online, at home or wherever you like! There are a variety of topics included in this program for children from tots through teens. Such topics include Helping Kids to Cope with Disappointment, The Screen Time Dilemma and Kids in the Morning – Set Routines that Work, to name only a few. For more information about Triple P, the programming they offer, and how you can register for this free program, please visit: www.triplep-parenting.ca

Bounce Back Ontario

If you’re experiencing low mood, depression, and anxiety, BounceBack can help. Through BounceBack youth 15-17 learn skills to help manage worry and anxiety, combat unhelpful thinking, and become more active and assertive. BounceBack offers two forms of help: BounceBack Today online videos and BounceBack telephone coaching and workbooks. Both of these programs can be completed from the comfort of your own home, so no need to attend a counsellor’s office. This second program involves three to six telephone coaching sessions. Your coach is there to help you develop new skills, keep you motivated, and monitor how you’re doing. You and your coach will select from among 20 workbook topics that are best suited to your current needs. Some popular workbooks are: Being assertive, Changing extreme and unhelpful thinking, and Overcoming sleep problems. Telephone coaching is currently available in the following languages: English, French, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Farsi, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, and Urdu. If you would like to learn more about this free program in Ontario, please visit: www.bouncebackontario.ca

Know What To Do Cards

In partnership with our community agencies, including Suicide Prevention Ottawa, the CDSBEO has created Know What To Do Cards to help those supporting someone with suicidal ideation to know how they can respond, support and offer hope. The resource details signs to watch for, and provides guidance on what someone can say and do to offer the struggling individual the help that they need. All CDSBEO staff who attend the ASIST training, and all CDSBEO staff and students who attend safeTALK training are provided a hard copy of this colourful, fold-out resource.

Please click here for a copy: Know What To Do - Suicide Prevention Brochure

Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know

In collaboration with the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the Ministry of Education, School Mental Health Ontario has developed an Info-Sheet for parents/guardians and caregivers on the topic of cannabis. The Info-Sheet contains facts on cannabis, information on cannabis legalization, the health and social effects of cannabis use on children and youth, as well as where to find support and additional information. To view this Info-Sheet, please visit: www.smh-assist.ca/Cannabis

Youth Cannabis Awareness Program (YCAP)

The Youth Cannabis Awareness Program (YCAP) offers free programming to youth aged 12 to 24, as well as adults (parents/guardians and professionals) involved in the lives of youth. Informed by protective factors contributing to youth mental health, YCAP provides a multi-faceted approach to increase knowledge and skills supporting positive youth development.

YCAP takes a harm reduction approach and does not make value judgments regarding recreational cannabis use. The program aims to minimize risks associated with cannabis use by providing youth, and adults involved in youth’s lives, with the most accurate and unbiased information. For more information visit: YMCA Youth Cannabis Awareness Program

Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP)

The YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) is a free service funded by Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care offering educational prevention programs to youth and adults involved in young people’s lives on gambling awareness including potential risks, making informed decisions and healthy and active living. For more information visit: YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program

211 Ontario

211 is the source Canadians trust when seeking information and services to deal with life’s challenges. 211’s award-winning telephone help line (simply dial 2-1-1) and website provide a gateway to community, social, non-clinical health and related government services. 211 helps to navigate the complex network of human services quickly and easily, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 100 languages. 211 connects people to the right information and services, strengthens Canada’s health and human services, and helps Canadians become more engaged with their communities. If you are looking for any resource in Ontario, including mental health services and support groups, simply dial 2-1-1, or visit their website at: 211.ca

Anxiety Canada: Youth

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health concern noted amongst school staff, parents and students alike. The CDSBEO is committed to supporting students when facing anxiety-provoking situations so that they can conquer their anxiety and master new skills. Explicitly teaching anxiety-reducing techniques is embedded within the CDSBEO schools. One resource that is often used to help educate youth about anxiety, and how to overcome anxiety, is Anxiety Canada: Youth. This youth-friendly website offers students information about what anxiety is, facing their fears, coping strategies and healthy habits. There are a number of videos also available on the site that depict young people dealing with their anxiety and, eventually, overcoming it. To view this website, please visit: www.youth.anxietycanada.com

eMentalHealth.ca

eMentalHealth.ca is a non-profit initiative of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) dedicated to improving the mental health of children, youth and families. If you are looking for information about mental health, and where to find help, eMentalHealth.ca provides anonymous, confidential and trustworthy information, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Features include:

Mental Health Help (i.e. directory of mental health services and organizations)
Info Sheets: Information about a variety of mental health conditions and topics
Screening Tools: Find out if you or a loved one has a mental health concern with free online screening tools
Events Calendar: Information about mental health events in your area
News Feed: Information about the latest mental health news
Research directory: Information about research studies in your area

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Student/Parent Mental Health Resources