The information below outlines the services offered by CYCs, Social Workers, and Mental Health Psychologists, along with guidance on how to seek assistance. Students in Grades 9-12 have the option to self-refer for social work and mental health psychology support. Refer to the information below for specific instructions on requesting help.
Child and Youth Counsellors - CYCs
School Based Kindergarten-Grade 8 and Gary Allan Learning Centre
CYCs support all students in classrooms and participate in school-wide activities (e.g. wellbeing teams) with educators to widely promote well-being. CYCs utilize mental health promotional and evidence-based social-emotional literacy materials. CYCs are also part of response teams at the system level (e.g. Tragic Events Response Team, BEHR, suicide risk screening). With consent, CYCs also provide more specific opportunities in small groups that focus on psychoeducation, well-being and skill building. It is possible, in the right conditions and with consent, for the CYC to provide brief (6-8 sessions) individual support to students according to their goals which are shared with parents/guardians.
CYC promotional support is provided to all elementary schools and Gary Allan sites in partnership with educators. Parents/guardians receive notification letters. In general, small group referrals are handled through the School Resource Team, or parents/guardians are contacted directly. In addition to ensuring right care, right service, and right time, referrals for individual support are also done in collaboration with parents and guardians through the School Resource Team and based on established criteria. High school students may be offered specific preventative groups by CYCs directly. You can ask your teacher or principal for more information about the CYC's services.
Social Workers
Kindergarten - Grade 8
Social workers work together with parents/caregivers, school staff, students and community providers so that students can feel well and have a positive school experience. Social workers offer individual support that is identity affirming. Together a plan to support the student is developed. Social workers can help provide referrals to community organizations.
You can
ask your teacher or principal for social work support.
Grades 9-12 - Individual Support
Social workers offer individual support that is focused on your strengths and interests. They provide identity affirming care. Together a plan to feel better is created. This plan might involve learning and practicing new thinking and feeling skills, or problem-solving stressors. Social Workers can also help you to connect with other social or peer supports and counsellors in the community.
Feeling super stressed, anxious or down?
Facing a problem that you would like help with?
Would you like some emotional support?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, click on your school to learn about the social worker assigned to your school and where you’ll find a link to confidentially request to see the social worker.
Small Group Support
Social workers also offer small group support. Check with your teacher or guidance counselor about groups for coping with anxious, low or big feelings.
Mental Health Psychologists
Individual Support
For students in Grades 9-12 mental health psychologists offer individual support to help them understand more about how their brain works and their own learning profile, manage stress, build strong habits, and develop effective executive functioning and learning strategies.
Are you interested in making a change but feel stuck?
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed with your assignments?
Are you easily distracted and have trouble staying focused?
Are you feeling disorganized and forgetful?
Are you interested in learning routines to support your wellness?
Do you want to learn more about a recent psychological assessment or diagnosis?
Do you have ADHD, LD, ASD, or other neurodiversity and want to learn more about it?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, click the
Student Referral Form to self-refer to a Mental Health Psychologist. *Secondary students must register themselves using their HDSB email address* There may be a high volume of interest in the program, and we will only be able to accept a limited number of students.
Small Group Support For students in Grades 9-12, mental health psychologists offer small group support.
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Habits for Wellness - intended to teach students skills related to forming goals, self-reflection and habit formation for their personal wellness (e.g. screen time, sleep, nutrition, physical activity). This program is based on Atomic Habits by James Clear. Next offering January 2024 -
Habits for Wellness Referral Form
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Executive Functioning Support
- This group focuses on developing effective learning strategies and executive function skills, as well as managing stress (e.g., time management, planning and organization, study strategies and test-taking tips, attention strategies, stress management and coping, etc).
- Referrals are ongoing throughout the first semester -
Executive Functioning Support Referral Form
*Secondary students must register themselves using their HDSB email address* There may be a high volume of interest in the program, and we will only be able to accept a limited number of students.