May 6th, 2022

Today is the final day of Mental Health Week, and although it marks the end of the week, we hope that this focus on mental health will help continue the conversation. Mental health does not have a beginning and an end. In order for each student within the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) to not feel the stigma associated with mental health and be encouraged to feel they can be open about their mental health, we need to keep this topic at the forefront.

Director chanicka said it best himself in his latest director’s message: “Unfortunately, there is so much stigma around mental health and our well-being in a way that we often don’t have the conversations that we need to have when it comes to [mental health]. We are okay with talking about having a broken bone or being ill and needing to go to the doctor to be treated, but we somehow think that we can’t do that when it comes to our mental health and well-being.”

We want to help you take that first step in seeking help, so today’s mental health theme is how to use the information we have shared when seeking help.

Theme: How to use this information when seeking help

As our students move along their academic journey, our schools have a community of helpers. It is important that our students know their “Circle of Support”.

Here at WRDSB, we have dedicated educators committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of their students. While it is important to have educators care about student well-being and have the ability to spot situations when students need help, we need to remind our community that educators are not trained clinicians. They cannot diagnose or treat students for mental health issues.

We do, however, have teams of support staff that help and work alongside our teachers and administrators to support students when they need help. They include Child and Youth Workers, Social Workers, Guidance Counsellors, Psychologists and Speech and Language Pathologists. If you think your child needs support, please contact your child’s teacher or administrator to start the conversation.

Not sure what external resources are available to your child? We have compiled a list of age-appropriate websites and organizations that share resources and information. We want our students to thrive! 

Resources

  1. Student lead – Psyki-Quarters – Psyki-Quarters is a student-led website that invites other students to explore and get resources and connect to their well-being. 
  2. Reach out – This guide is through Jack.org and is a tip sheet to look at how students can reach out and ask for help. 
  3. Jack.org – This poster mentions the golden rules of “being there” for someone struggling with mental health.  
  4. Here 24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. They do the intake, assessment, referral, crisis, waitlist and appointment booking work for these important programs. In Crisis or Need Support? Call 1-844-HERE247 (1-844-437-3247) anytime.
  5. Carizon specializes in children’s mental health, youth engagement and development, family violence, individual and family counselling, credit counselling, settlement supports, and collective wellness.
  6. Front Door works with parents/caregivers, children and youth (up to their 18th birthday) who are struggling with life’s challenges such as emotions, behaviours, relationships and mental health.
  7. K-W Counselling is a multi-service agency providing individual, family, group and outreach, supports to the community.
  8. White Owl is dedicated to innovative Indigenous Wholistic practice with a commitment to whole-person development within the family and community. They offer individual, couple and family counselling, outreach programs, and land-based teachings and programs.
  9. LGBT Youthline offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4PM to 9:30PM.
  10. Kind Minds Family Wellness is an organization made up of 15 Black professionals that provide culturally relevant, identity-affirming support to our community. They specialize in Afrocentric/culturally grounded counselling, education, employment and research advocacy.
  11. Coalition of Muslim Women is an organization that provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, and leadership and skills development for women, while addressing issues of gender-based violence, racism, discrimination and Islamophobia.
  12. Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre offers a range of services for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities and/or an autism spectrum disorder.  

Need immediate help?

Here 24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. They do the intake, assessment, referral, crisis, waitlist and appointment booking work for these important programs. In Crisis or Need Support? Call 1-844-HERE247 (1-844-437-3247) anytime.

Front Door works with parents/caregivers, children and youth (up to their 18th birthday) who are struggling with life’s challenges such as emotions, behaviours, relationships and mental health.

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to kids, teens and young adults in English and French. Start a confidential conversation with a real person you can trust by calling 1-800-668-6868 or texting 686868.

If your matter is urgent, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Missed the previous Mental Health Week messages?