Ontario Expanding Access to Student Mental Health Supports

My colleague, Minister Lecce announced the government is continuing to support students with an investment of over $350,000 to expand access to targeted mental health and well-being programs and services within local communities.

These investments reinforce the government’s commitment to ensuring every student in the province can reach their full potential, and they build on historic funding announced last month to overcome the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario’s investments will help create new, or sustain existing, mental health and well-being programs and resources led by community organizations. The investments, which are part of the government’s Priorities and Partnerships Funding COVID-19 Equity Supports, include:

  • $150,000 to Women’s Brain Health Initiative to deliver Brainable, a free education program about brain health for students in Grades 5 to 8. Taught in both official languages by an Ontario Certified Teacher, the program includes follow-up guides and activities that reinforce healthy brain habits for students, parents and teachers.
  • $92,105 to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to gain a better understanding of substance use trends, including the effect of substance use on school participation, on school-aged youth from an equity perspective. Funding will also go toward resources for those working with youth who are disconnected from school due to substance use difficulties in order to support their re-engagement with the school system.
  • $50,000 to the ministry’s implementation partner, School Mental Health Ontario, to collaborate with Eating Disorders Ontario (EDO) to develop promotion- and prevention-based resources in the area of eating disorders for use in Ontario’s K-12 schools. This work aligns with efforts underway in other sectors being led by EDO.
  • $50,000 to MADD Canada to deliver an interactive harm-reduction program that informs young people of the risks associated with using cannabis and driving.
  • $25,000 to the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) to develop a vaping parent resource, which includes options parents can navigate based on their individual needs (e.g., text-based resources, videos, short modules, etc.).

Under Premier Ford, the government is making record investments in your children’s mental health, wellbeing, and learning recovery as we ensure a strong recovery from the pandemic.

News Release:

English: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001924/ontario-expanding-access-to-student-mental-health-supports

French: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/release/1001924/lontario-elargit-lacces-des-eleves-aux-soutiens-en-matiere-de-sante-mentale