Ontario Supporting the Mental Health of Students

At the start of National Mental Health Awareness Week, Ministers Stephen Lecce and Michael Tibollo proudly stood by Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington, to announce new mandatory learning on mental health and strengthened supports in the classroom, following strong advocacy, including a motion in the legislature by MPP Pierre.

Starting this upcoming school year, Ontario students in grades 7 and 8 will be required to take a mental health learning module, with additional mandatory learning embedded in the grade 10 Careers Course. The new mandatory mental health lessons will include new learning materials and tools such as student activities, videos and interactive programming and information to help young people learn life skills and tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and understand where they can turn when anxiety and mental health issues arise  

The government is also investing an additional $12 million this year, and $14 million next year, to provide much-needed mental health resources over the summer months. This funding will further students’ access to reliable and consistent school-based mental health professionals and services year-round — a key recommendation of parents and mental health providers. 

The government acted to ensure Ontario was the first province to mandate mental health learning in every grade and we will continue to ensure students have the tools and confidence to succeed in the classroom, and to always know that they are not alone.

News Release; https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002993/ontario-launching-new-mental-health-learning-and-increasing-funding