Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools

  In the school

• Create welcoming and inclusive environments, e.g. establish safe spaces such as a chill room or sensory room.
• Promote mental health tools, community resources and supports, e.g. bulletin boards, morning announcements, posters.
• Refer to the Parent Engagement in Schools Newsletter Insert.

  In the classroom

• Provide presentations to staff on Developmental Relationships and/or Asset Building.
• Incorporate Principles to Strengthen a Healthy School including, asset building, equity and inclusion, and student engagement.

  In the community

Participate in Awareness Campaigns

• Bell Let’s Talk Day (external link)
• Pink Shirt Day (external link)
• Bullying – we can all help stop it – Ontario Ministry of Education (external link)

  In the school

• Partner with agencies like Halton Food For Thought (external link) to provide breakfast & snack programs.
• Provide mental health related school newsletter inserts and blogs for parents (external link).
• Share mental health resources on your school website, e.g.
  • Ready Set Whoa
  • HaltonParents
  • Emotional Wellbeing/Mental Health

  In the classroom

Invite community partners to be a guest speaker, e.g. Halton Women’s Place (external link).

  In the community

• Invite community agencies to be a part of Safe Schools/Wellbeing committees.
• Provide mental health resources to parents, e.g. presentations on Developmental Relationships, Building Assets, Growth Mindset, and/or Cyberbullying.

  In the school

Use the School Mental Health Ontario Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource (external link).

  In the classroom

• Implement curriculum (visit Halton Region Positive Mental Health Promotion for Schools or Bullying Prevention for Schools webpages for a variety of curriculum resources).
• Deliver Healthy Transitions Curriculum for grade 8 students.

  In the community

Work with other schools in your community to host a guest speaker to talk to students/staff about mental-well-being.

  In the school

• Start a Wellbeing committee.
• Implement Healthy Schools Certification (external link).
• Identify mental health priorities by reviewing local data (school surveys/focus groups).
• Offer regular staff wellness activities, e.g. staff yoga, Well-being Workshop for Educators.
• Work with School Board Mental Health Lead to provide professional development.
• Work through Principles to Strengthen a Healthy School - Asset Building.

  In the classroom

• Offer student leadership opportunities such as peer mentoring.
• Provide workshop for student leaders: The Power of Developmental Relationships.

  In the community

Apply for grants to support mental health initiatives, e.g. PRO grants, Halton Learning Foundation (external link) (HDSB).

  In the school

• Have students participate on Wellbeing committee.
• Offer school clubs based on student interest and feedback.
• Offer physical activity opportunities, e.g. intramurals, running clubs, Walk and wheel events - Ontario Active School Travel (external link).
• Run a Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (P.A.L.S.) program.

  In the classroom

• Give opportunities for student voice about class and school issues.
• Integrate stress-management and coping strategies (external link).

  In the community

Partner with community agencies to offer free opportunities for students, e.g. arena, skate park, YMCA, pool.