Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being in the TDSB
January 26, 2022
It’s Bell Let’s Talk Day on Wednesday January 26 and the TDSB is joining the conversation all week long to raise awareness and encourage discussions about mental health.
One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness at some point in their life, and most will be cautious about talking about it or reaching out for help due to stigma. For anyone experiencing mental health problems or living with a mental illness, stigma is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. In fact, this is why two-thirds of people do not seek support. Bell Let’s Talk Day reminds us that talking is the best way to start breaking down the stigma associated with mental health problems and illness and accessing mental health support.
Covid-19 is affecting every aspect of our lives including a profound impact on our mental health and wellbeing. The pandemic has magnified racial, economic and social inequities which continue to disproportionately impact vulnerable and marginalized communities, in particular Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQQI+ communities and students living with special needs. Flexibility, creativity, compassion and providing culturally relevant and responsive supports to honour the lived experiences, assets and identities of students, families, caregivers and staff strengthens mental wellness. Recognizing stressors and being there for someone are actions that support mental wellbeing and strengthen school communities during challenging times.
During the week (or on January 26-whatever is decided)of January 25 to 29, education staff are encouraged to intentionally pause and take some time to have classroom discussions about mental health and well-being and to share the resources and activities provided with students and parents/caregivers. Resources are also available for TDSB staff.
Getting Started
- Introductory videos and slide presentations about mental health and well-being are available:
- For elementary students: Talking Mental Health
- For secondary students: Promoting Mental Health Finding a Shared Language.
- A classroom lesson about mental health for middle and high school students:Mental Health Discussion Jan 2021 .
- Check out these Class Conversation Starters to start these important discussions about mental health and well-being with your students.
- Suggestions for daily classroom announcements, activities and mental health and well-being resources for elementary, secondary and complex needs students are below.
- Bell Let’s Talk Choice Boards are available for all members of our TDSB community. They can be found here:
- Students with Complex/Special Needs:MH Choice Board-Students with Complex Needs
- Kindergarten to Grade 1 Students: MH ChoiceBoard-Elementary K-1
- Grade 2-5 Students: MH ChoiceBoard-Grades 2-5
- Middle School Students: MH ChoiceBoard-Middle School
- Secondary Students: MH ChoiceBoard-Secondary
- TDSB Staff: MH ChoiceBoard-Staff
- TDSB Teaching Staff: MH ChoiceBoard - Teaching Staff
- Parents/Caregivers: MH ChoiceBoard-Parents/Caregivers
- Administrators and education staff are encouraged to review Curriculum Considerations -a short document written by TDSB school-based mental health professionals to address important considerations about supporting mental health and well-being during Pandemic learning and beyond.
- Share information with your families: Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child from School Mental Health Ontario & Your Child's Mental Wellness and Remote Learning from Children’s Mental Health Ontario. THIS CAN COME OUT-NOW IN CHOICE BOARDS
- Monthly Themed Mental Health and Well Being Daily Activities from School Mental Health Resources created for grades K-3, 4-8, Secondary and Students with Special Educational Needs/Complex Needs
- Monthly Well-Being Activities for Gr.K-3
- Monthly Well-Being Activities for Gr. 4-8
- Monthly Well-Being Activities for Secondary Grades
- Monthly Well-Being Activities for Students with Special Needs
- Share information with your students about accessing Culturally-Responsive Mental Health Supports (THIS IS IN THE CHOICEBOARDS)
- *NEW* Check out the TDSB Mental Health and Well Being Website with many resources for students, parents, caregivers and staff Mental Health and Well-Being (tdsb.on.ca)
- Mental Health professionals are available to support TDSB students. Please reach out to your school administrator(s) for more information.
- Resources to support staff mental health and wellbeing are available here: COVID-19: Mental Health Resources | OTIP RAEO Morneau Shepell Employee Family Assistance Program TDSB Staff Resources BounceBack Staff Wellness Workout Mornings Calendar (VPN required) THIS INFORMATION IS IN THE CHOICEBOARDS
Please join us in recognizing Bell Let’s Talk Day by engaging in meaningful conversations, and activities and showing your support for all those who live with a mental illness and those taking action to help them.
Keep well,
TDSB Professional Support Services Mental Health & Well-Being Committee
Represented by members from:
Child and Youth Services
Occupational and Physiotherapy Services
Psychological Services
Social Work Services
Speech and Language Pathology Services
Shameen Sandhu, System Leader, Mental Health and Professional Support Services
Bell Let's Talk Week - January 25-29, 2021 | Elementary | |||
MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
Recognizing Signs of Stress | Taking Care of Yourself | Taking Care of Others | Bell Let's Talk Day Reach Out For Support | End Stigma |
Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: |
We all feel stress, but we might experience it differently. Stress can affect how our minds think and our bodies feel. During COVID, there are so many more things that are out of our control and that can make us feel more stressed. Some signs of stress include: sleeping too much or too little, changes in eating, butterflies in your stomach, feeling worried and not feeling well. It's important to remember that not everyone reacts to the same things in the same way. Sometimes it's okay not to be okay. | When you're feeling stressed, it's important to take care of yourself! Simple ways to take care of yourself include: Taking care of your body. Take deep breaths or stretch. Try to eat healthy meals, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Connecting with others. Talk to your parents, teachers or friends about how you are feeling. Doing things you like. Play games, colour, go for a walk, or do any other activity that makes you feel good. Focusing on things you can control instead of worrying about what you can’t. You can't decide when schools will reopen, for example, but you can decide when you'll do your homework. Think of some other ways you can take care of yourself! | Yesterday, we talked about how it’s important to take care of yourself. Today, we’re going to focus on taking care of other people. Here are some ways that you can help someone else who might be feeling stressed or worried right now: Give them a chance to talk about their feelings Let them know that their feelings are okay Give them some ideas for how they can help themselves feel better or who else they can go to for help Do something fun together Helping others can help you too! | Today is officially Bell Let’s Talk Day! Today, we are sharing different ways that you can connect to help. If you or a loved one are struggling and: Sleeping too much or too little Feeling really worried, down or out of control Feeling angry, guilty, helpless, numb, or confused Not wanting to get out of bed Having trouble concentrating Eating too much or too little Having little patience There are lots of places where you can get help! Here are some ideas: Talk to your parent, teacher or other caring adult at home, school or in the community Call or text the Kids Help Phone Talk to your doctor Speak to someone atl the What's Up Walk-In® clinic Look into information from Mind Your Mind Get help from a community mental health agency such as Lumenus or Strides Toronto | Today is our final day of activities for Bell Let’s Talk. We’ll be talking about stigma and how we can help end it. Stigma is when people are judged by others in a negative way. Stigma is the number one reason that a lot of people don’t get help when they need it. They’re worried about what other people will say or think about them if they have a problem. Here are some ways you can help: Be careful with the words you use Be kind Be a good listener Let others talk about their feelings Many people with mental health issues can and do feel better, just by talking about it. |
Activities: | Activities: | Activities: | Activities: | Activities: |
Defining Stigma Activity & Handout | ||||
Show us what your class has done in support of Bell Let's Talk Week. Don't forget to share your activities on social media and tag #BellLetsTalk #ShareTheGood and @TDSB_MHWB! | ||||
Resources: | ||||
Kids Help Phone, Social Emotional Learning Posters, What's Up Walk-In, Mind Your Mind, Lumenus, Strides Toronto, Every Day Mental Health Practices School Mental Health Ontario | ||||
Bell Let's Talk Week - January 25-29, 2021 | Secondary | |||
MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
Recognizing Signs of Stress | Taking Care of Yourself | Taking Care of Others | Bell Let's Talk Day Reach Out For Help | End Stigma |
Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: | Announcement To Post: |
We all feel stress, but we might experience it differently. Stress can affect how our minds think and our bodies feel. During COVID, there are so many more things that are out of our control and that can make us feel more stressed. Some signs of stress include: sleeping too much or too little, changes in eating, butterflies in your stomach, feeling worried and not feeling well. It's important to remember that not everyone reacts to the same things in the same way. Sometimes it's okay not to be okay. | Taking care of yourself is important to helping you cope with stress. Simple ways to take care of yourself include: taking breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about the pandemic including social media and choosing credible sources to get information. Take care of your body by taking deep breaths, stretching, or meditating. Try to eat healthy, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs. Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Maintain as normal a routine as possible, including engaging in activities you enjoy. Focus your energies on what you can control rather than worrying about what you can’t. You can come up with a new hobby, talk to a friend or exercise but you cannot control when a vaccine will become available or when we will go back to business as usual. | No matter what someone is going through, being there for them helps. There is no secret formula to make everything better. But that's not your job. You don't have to craft the perfect conversation or have it all figured out. You don't have to fix things. You just have to be there. So how do you do that? Say what you see. Show you care. Hear them out. Know your role. Connect to help. | You might be thinking I don't think my problems are important or big enough to talk about, or that people might judge you. Not at all. It's best to reach out and talk to someone. We all have mental health and talking is one of the ways we take care of it. Here are some suggestions to help start the conversation: "I'm hoping you can help me or find someone who can", "I've been feeling down lately, can I get your help?" The person you reach out to might not be able to fix your problem, but they will help you find someone who can support you better. If you find that your problems seem to be unresolved after seeking help, don't give up. Keep trying. You will find someone who can support you and let you know that you are not alone. | Helping to end the stigma around mental illness can help people seek the help they need and create positive change. One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma of having a problem and asking for help. It is the number one reason why two-thirds of those living with a mental illness do not seek help. Some simple ways to help end the stigma are: Treat everyone with respect, Be warm, caring and non-judgemental, Challenge stigma when you see or hear it and use language that is inclusive and helpful. Be kind, listen to others and learn about the facts about Mental Health and Mental illness to bring awareness to others. |
Activity: | Activity: | Activity: | Activity: | Activity: |
Show us what your class has done in support of Bell Let's Talk Week. Don't forget to share your activities on social media and tag #BellLetsTalk #ShareTheGood and @TDSB_MHWB! | ||||
Additional Resources | ||||
BeThere.org; Self-Care 101 for Students; No Problem Too Big or Too Small Poster; High School Handout - Psychological Services, TDSB; Additional Resources for Youth; Teacher's Guide to Let's Talk, Everyday Mental Health Practices School Mental Health Ontario, Bean Bag Chat | ||||
Bell Let's Talk Week - January 25-29, 2021 | COMPLEX NEEDS | |||
MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY |
Recognizing Signs of Stress | Taking Care of Yourself | Taking Care of Others | Bell Let's Talk Reach Out For Support | End Stigma |
Activity: | Activity: | Activity: | Activity: | Activity: |
Managing emotions story - Tucker Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think | ||||
Breathe Think Do App (free to download from the App Store) | ||||
Helping Out At Home Activities | ||||
Exploring Feelings - Boardmaker Activities (only accessible to educators) | ||||
Show us what your class has done in support of Bell Let's Talk Week. Don't forget to share your activities on social media and tag #BellLetsTalk #ShareTheGood and @TDSB_MHWB! | ||||
Resources: | ||||
Surrey Place Wellness Services; TDSB PSS Mental Health and Wellbeing Youtube Channel; Top 10 Tips to Support Caregiver Mental Health, Every Day Mental Health Practices School Mental Health Ontario | ||||