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B - Key Foundations for Leading Mentally Healthy Schools

Newsletter Entry 8 - March 18, 2025

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School Mental Health Ontario supports principals and vice-principals to lead mentally health schools.  Today's insert highlights the second section of the suite of resources.

In this section you will learn and find resources on

  • Why Leadership commitment is critical to aligning the school’s core work and ensuring quality, consistency, and sustainability in school mental health.

  • Why promoting identity-affirming student mental health requires collective effort. 

  • Why it is important to have a vision and a strategy for the development, implementation and decision-making of mental health promotion, supports, and services in schools. 

  • Why it is important for every school to have a dedicated mental health team to ensure that mental health and well-being are prioritized and embedded within the school culture. 

  • Why protocols and processes are in place to ensure safe and responsible practices related to student mental health (e.g., a suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention protocol). 

  • Why reviewing and assessing needs, gaps, resources, initiatives and capacity is an important part of the school planning process (evidence and monitoring).

  • Why having clear and supportive communication across multiple channels with internal and external stakeholders about student mental health and well-being helps to build shared language and understanding.  

  • How to lead a mentally healthy school using implementation science.

Copies of the desk reference are available from your board's Mental Health Lead. Or sign up to download the Leading Mentally Healthy Schools ebook. 

We want to hear from you!

LMHS Joint Association Feedback Form

Previous Newsletter Entries

This segment will raise awareness of the available resources through SMH-ON and how to apply them to your practice.  

Entry 1 - November 6, 2024 

What is School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON)*?

What is School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON)*?

Newsletter Entry 1 - November 6, 2024 

School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) is here to support your leadership.

Did you know?

  • SMH-ON has been working with the Ministry of Education and school boards since 2011.

  • SMH-ON works in partnership with the province’s three Principals Associations (ADFO, CPCO, OPC).

SMH-ON supports P/VPs with:

  • Leadership and guidance about best practices in school mental health.

  • Tailored, co-created resources that are evidence-informed, student-centred and aligned with the Ontario curriculum.

  • Mental health literacy for educators and school/system leaders.

  • Mental health awareness for parents/families.

  • A platform for student voice and leadership in school mental health.

To learn more, visit: 

School Mental Health Ontario

Entry 2 - November 20, 2024

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Suite of Resources

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Suite of Resources

Newsletter Entry 2 - November 20, 2024

Did you know?

  • School Mental Health Ontario has recently updated its Leading Mentally Healthy Schools resource suite to support Ontario administrators in establishing the conditions to promote mental health and well-being.

  • The suite of resources describes the core components of developing, operating, and sustaining mentally healthy schools in Ontario.

  • It has been designed with the busy school administrator in mind to reference as and when needed

To learn more, visit:

SMH-ON Suite of Resources

Entry 3 - December 4, 2024

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools eBook

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools eBook

Newsletter Entry 3 - December 4, 2024

Did you know?

  • Administrators have access to an ebook that is a digital, downloadable, clickable fulsome resource with data and resource links.

  • 1510 Principals/Vice-Principals have downloaded the ebook already. 

How to get the eBook: 

Image of Leading Mentally Healthy Schools eBook cover

  • Sign up at smho-smso.ca/leading-mentally-healthy-schools.

  • Once you confirm your subscription (check your spam folder!), your copy of the Leading Mentally Healthy Schools ebook should arrive in your inbox. 
  • Signing up for the ebook puts you on the mailing list for related articles, case studies, feedback opportunities, and more.

Download your copy today! Try out the dynamic search feature - 

Entry 4 - January 15, 2025

MH LIT - Mental Health in Action for School Administrators online course

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Suite of Resources

Newsletter Entry 4 - January 15, 2025

Image of MH LIT online course description

Did you know?

The MH LIT for School Administrators course and LMHS e-book work in tandem to build mental health literacy and support student mental health throughout the tiers.

  • Each of the six course modules align with the six sections of the e-book. 

  • The course provides foundational information for administrators to support the mental health and well-being of students, and partners with the e-book which provides a more in-depth look at these concepts. 

  • Free, self-paced learning

  • Can be completed individually or with colleagues

  • You will receive a certificate of completion for your portfolio

To learn more, visit MH LIT - Mental Health in Action for School Administrators online course.

Entry 5 - January 29, 2025

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Website

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Website

Newsletter Entry 5 - January 29, 2025

Image of SMH-ON School Admin webpage

Did you know?

To learn more, visit SMH-ON School Administrator website resources.

Entry 6 - February 12, 2025

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Desk Reference

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Desk Reference

Newsletter Entry 6 - February 12, 2025

Image of cover for Leading Mentally Healthy Schools desk reference

Did you know?

  • The LMHS desktop reference serves as a vital tool for principals and vice-principals, offering an at-a-glance guide of the content of the larger LMHS ebook and MH LIT for School Administrators course

  • It highlights each section, allowing administrators to quickly identify the relevant information they need at any moment.

  • Includes fill-in templates for quick reference information.

Copies are available from your board's Mental Health Lead.

Newsletter Entry 7 - March 5, 2025

A - Background and context

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools - Background and context

Newsletter Entry 7 - March 5, 2025

Image of section title background and context

 

School Mental Health Ontario supports principals and vice-principals to lead mentally health schools. Today's insert highlights the first section of the suite of resources.

In this section you will learn and find resources on:

  • Why it is important to focus on  mental health at school

  • What students say about their priorities for mental health learning and programming in their school communities. 

  • The meaning of a mentally healthy school and of mental health literacy

  • The importance of school administrators in leading a mentally healthy school

  • The relationship between addictions, mental health and mental illness

Copies of the desk reference are available from your board's Mental Health Lead. Or sign up to download the Leading Mentally Healthy Schools ebook. 

*School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) is the Ministry of Education’s implementation partner for student mental health.  SMH-ON does this through the development and implementation of made-in-Ontario, evidence-informed mental health promotion and prevention resources, programs, and professional learning for classroom educators, school administrators, and regulated school mental health professionals. (PPM 169)