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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Mental Health and Well-Being​

Stress, worry and anxious feelings are an understandable and adaptive response to these stressful situations. 

This content is​ designed to give you information about mental health, how you can support your child’s good mental health, and, if you are concerned about your child’s mental health, where to turn to for help.​​

Printable Version Mental Health & Well-Being Resources​

​​​​
Mental Health and Well-Being ​
How can I support my child's mental health and well-being during a return to school?​​ ​​

How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child​

This past year has been anything but usual! We know that while many students and families are eager to return to a “more normal” school experience, some will be worried about starting back, and what this new school year will look like for them. Remember as parents/guardians you know your child best!

Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child​
​​​

Parenting during a pandemic ​​

Parenting during a pandemic is challenging!

There are many stresses, changes and challenges for us, our children and families and friends. Parents/guardians need support during these times.  These resources acknowledge why parenting in a pandemic is challenging, and provide reassurance and ideas of how to manage. 

  • Guilt, grief, and grace, oh my: Parenting during a Pandemic
  • Parenting in a Pandemic (CMHO)
  • Mindful Parenting in a Time of Pressure and Uncertainty 
  • Pandemic Parenting - Multiple recorded webinars
  • 8 ​Tips to Help Families Stay Emotionally Regulated 
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 2​ - Keeping it Positive
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 4​ - Bad Behaviour 
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 5 - Keep Calm and Manage Stress
  • “The Complete Guide to Insomnia - and How You Can Manage It”​
  • What to Say to Kids When Emotions are Big and Nothing Seems to Work: Strategies​​ ​ ​​ 
Supporting your child’s mental health and well-being​​

You may be wondering how the pandemic ​is impacting your child and what you can do to support their mental health and well-being.

​These suggestions recognize what children need and provide suggested ways to support these needs. In sharing this, we believe you will recognize the many ways you are already supporting your child(ren)’s mental health and well-being.

What your child or 
youth
​needs from you​

Ways to support their 
mental health and well-being

Healthy connection - spending 
t​ime together

Spend time with your child 1:1 or as a family. Find a common/shared interest. Explore a new hobby. Bake, cook or have dinner together. What’s important is that you are together and enjoying each other’s company.

Positive role model

The pandemic has been tough on everyone, including parents! Because children take their cues from adults, your own well-being is very important.

Try your best to convey a sense of calm. Let your children know that this is stressful, but that you are/will get through this. Let them see how you are practicing self-care and prioritizing your well-being. 
Try a new well-being strategy and invite your child to do this with you - things like reading, watching comedies or telling jokes, going for walks/being outside, meditating or helping someone, or practicing mindfulness or gratitude.

Someone to listen to them

It is important that children know that there are adults who will listen to them as they talk about their concerns, questions or fears. Ask your children if they have questions or concerns. 

Validation of the many changes, uncertainty and experiences of loss and anticipation  

During the 2020-21 school year, every child’s learning experience has changed from where and how they are learning, the teachers and peers that they are interacting with, to changed schedules, routines and protocols. Beginning in September 2021, students again will experience changes. ​​

To support your child, validate the many changes, uncertainty and experiences of loss and anticipation that they are experiencing. For example, “I hear that you are concerned about this” ”I hear that you are worried that” “I hear that you are feeling” It sounds to me like you are wondering about” “I hear that this situation is painful for you right now” “I hear that you miss…”, “What are you looking forward to with a return to school?” etc.

Teach/reinforce well-being strategies 

Ask your child what well-being and coping strategies they are using and/or have found helpful in the past. Ask them how they use this strategy, and how it helps them to feel better. Encourage your child(ren) to plan to use one or more of these strategies everyday. 

Take this opportunity to teach your child new coping strategies. Deep breathing, physical activity, being in nature, mindfulness, playing a game, having fun, playing with pets, arts and crafts, journaling, practicing gratitude and listening to music are positive coping strategies.

12 Easy and Fun Activities Mental Health Activities for Elementary Students (SMHO)

Look for the positive

Ask your child(ren) for examples (or share examples) of helping and kindness that they have seen in others in response to the virus. Ask them for examples (or share examples) of improvements because of the current crisis/situation.  Ask your child for things they are experiencing feelings of hope.

Encourage your child(ren) to think about what they can do to show kindness and be helpful to others. Note how people come together in difficult times. Can they ‘interview’ elders or seniors to learn what difficult times they have been through and how they coped? Ask/help your child to identify the ways that they have coped with the pandemic, and the lessons they have learned from this experience. 

Limit exposure to overwhelming news 

Frequent exposure to TV/media coverage, and/or overhearing or being exposed to continuous adult conversation can increase your child’s anxiety. Ask your child(ren) how much news media they are consuming, and suggest that they limit their viewing to approximately 30 minutes a day.

Guidance around screen time

Children and youth spend a lot of their time in front of screens including social media. Ask your child about their technology use: what do they notice about their mood and emotions? How do they feel if they are not connected to their devices? Has anything bad happened while they were online (sexting, bullying, etc.)?  Ask them, “what would you do if you weren’t on your device?” Encourage use of devices for creative and innovative purposes (a healthy way to use screen time). Consider screen free times every day.

  • 7 Ways to Use Social Media to Benefit Your Health (Bounce Back Canadian Mental Health Association)
  • Screentime is making Kids Moody and Lazy (article)
  • Technology Contracts (ementalhealth)

Support with Remote Learning

This is a big change for many students! This resource helps you to work through the tech challenges while supporting your child’s mental health and well-being:  Your Child's Mental Wellness and Remote Learning

​ ​

​

Strategies for supporting your child’s mental health and well-being ​​​ ​
These resources provide suggestions on how we can take care of our mental health and well-being. ​
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle
  • COVID 19 Youth Hub jack.org  
  • Self-Care 101 for Students
  • Learning Brain vs. Stress Brain (video)
  • 5 Ways to Help a Friend (poster)
  • Kids Help Phone Self-Care Checklist
  • Kids Help Phone - How to calm down when you’re stressed
  • 12 Instant Stress Busters
  • Sleep Hygiene - Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
  • Lighthouse Peer Support for Grieving Children, Youth and their Families Information and peer support groups​ ​
  • 3 Ways for Parents and Families to build Resilience During COVID
  •  Grief Support Text and Online Chat Service for adults, children and youth text 289-278-1885 or visit Kemp Hospice grief peer support   7 days a week, 10am-10pm  
  • Nightingale Centre  parent, child and youth bereavement support groups  1-519-265-9594
  • Parent Tip sheet: Supporting-Mental-Health-and-Wellness-during-the-Return-to-School (School Mental Health Ontario)
  • Stress, Anxiety, Distraction, Relaxation, Changing Unhelpful Thoughts and Gratitude Skills (SMHO)
When additional help might be needed​ ​​​ ​

Are their thoughts, feelings and behaviours:

Intense? These aren’t mild, everyday fluctuations. They’re stronger and more  persistent thoughts, feelings, and behaviours than the usual ups and downs of life.

Long-lasting? They’re having a consistent or lingering presence over weeks, months, or longer. Many professionals suggest that anything that’s lasted two weeks or longer can be cause for concern.

Having a big impact? They’re beginning to have negative consequences in one’s life, possibly interfering with someone’s ability to function and/or meet their everyday goals.​

​ ​​

Frequently Asked Questions​ (FAQs​)

What does the term mental health mean?​

While there are many definitions, what all definitions share is the idea that when we have good mental health and well-being, we have the ability to enjoy life and to manage stressful and difficult situations.​

What is the difference between mental health and well-being and mental illness?​​

Mental health and well-being are two separate, but connected ideas.  We can have a mental illness, and be mentally well, or unwell.  We can also have poor mental well-being without having a mental illness.​​

Dual Continuum of Mental Health
​​

What do I need to support my child’s mental health and well-being?

At every place on these continuums of well-being and mental illness, it is important to take care of mental health and well-being.

When we are feeling healthy and well, and have some stress, self-care and social supports help us to maintain our wellness.

When we are struggling and have lower levels of mental health, additional supports at school and in the community, along with self-care and social supports can help us to regain our mental health and well-being. 

When we are in a crisis, emergency services and supports are needed.

​

​Mental Health Support
​​​


Where can I get help for my child’s mental health?​

At school, speak to your child’s teacher or other trusted staff person. Your teacher, other school staff and child and youth counsellors and social workers are available to help. 

How to Work with your School to Access Support for your Child's Mental Health

In the community for counselling

  • Reach Out Centre for Kids  Live Answer 289-266-0036; Virtual Walk-In ; Live Chat
  • We Matter - Indigenous Youth Support   An Indigenous youth-led nationally registered organization dedicated to Indigenous youth support, hope and life promotion
  • Black Youth Helpline-416-258-9944- 9 am- 10pm every day
  • Taibu Community Health Centre: 416-644-3536
  • LGBT+ Youthline: 647-694-4275
  • Positive Space Network
  • Indus Community Services: 905- 275-2369
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle
  • SAVIS Tel: (905)825-3622, e-mail: savis@savisofhalton.org Support for violence or sexual violence in intimate relationships, including trafficking
  • ADAPT Halton for youth wanting information or help to manage drug, alcohol or gambling concerns
  • Sioutreach.org: Iinformation and coping strategies for self-harm/self-injury
  • Radius Child & Youth Services specializes in working with children, youth, and families who have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, neglect, or witnessed intimate partner violence.  
  • Punjabi Community Health Services For information call 905-677-0889 ext. 221
  • Naseeha ​- Muslin Youth Helpline (1-866-627-3342)
  • Hong Fook - Chinese mental health supports
  • Hope for Wellness - Indigenous mental health supports
  • Indus Community Services
  • SACHSS - South Asian Canadian Health & Social Services
  • SAMHAA - South Asian Mental Health Alliance
  • SOCH Mental Health - South Asian mental health supports
  • Talk 4 Healing - helpline for Indigenous women​​

For crisis support

  • ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
  • KidsHelp Phone  Call a Counsellor:  1-800-668-6868; Text a Counsellor: 686868; Live Chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/
  • Family doctor
  • Emergency Room
  • Police - MHERT or COAST team
  • Halton Children’s Aid Society if you or another child/youth are under the age of 18 and require support and protection Toll Free: 866.607.KIDS (5437) Phone: 905.333.4441 Fax: 905.333.1844 TTY: 711 (TTY to Voice)​ 
  • Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY)  416-535-8501, press 2. Self-referrals, Community Referrals, and Physician Referrals. Servicing youth between the ages of 14-24 struggling with mental health and substance issues. Individual, Family and Group support.
  • Roots Community Services for children, youth, families who identify as Black, and are from African and Caribbean backgrounds. Culturally responsive counselling is provided.

​ ​
​
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