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Mental Health and Well-Being Resources for School Reopening

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​​​​​​​​Parent/Guardian Section 


Preparing your Child for School Re-opening

  • Share information about what your child’s school day will look like.
    For example,
    • What time will they get up in the morning?
    • What does their morning routine look like?
    • Will they be attending school, learning remotely or a combination?
    • How will they get to school (and home again)?
    • What time does school/class start?
    • Who is their teacher? SERT? EA? Principal? Secretary? Custodian? Bus driver?
    • Who is going to be in their class?
    • What are the classroom routines?
    • How will they enter and exit the school?
    • When and where will they have lunch and recess breaks?
    • What are the procedures for going to the bathroom?
  • Review and practice preventative measures of hand hygiene, physical distancing, respiratory hygiene, and wearing of non-medical masks, cloth masks and face coverings.
    • This helps students to be comfortable with these practices so that doing them at school will feel familiar. These practices can also help students to feel less worried or stressed because they are actively taking action to help protect themselves and others.
  • Children May Be Afraid of Masks: Here's How to Help
  • How to Get Your Kids to Wear a Face Mask
  • Supporting Mental Health and Wellness During Return to School (SMHO)
  • Review the student self-assessment and screening tool with your child.
  • Ask your children about any questions they have. Answer factually, and in a way that is appropriate to their developmental age and temperament. It’s okay to say “I don’t know”. Resist the understandable urge to provide reassurance as this can reinforce worries and anxiety. Instead, help your child to problem-solve and plan.
  • Remind your child of the importance of kindness and treating others and being treated respectfully. Let them know that they can share with you or their teacher situations that are upsetting to them, including bullying, and that you will help them.
  • Help your child to focus on the positive (as opposed to the negative). Ask them what they are looking forward to when they are at school. Many students have said they are looking forward to seeing and playing with their friends and teachers!
  • Be sure to take care of yourself. Parents are important role models. Share adult concerns with other adults. Children feel reassured when their parents and other caregivers are calm. It helps them to feel safe. By taking care of your well-being, you are showing your child that this is important for you and them.
  • List your child(ren)’s strengths, interests and coping skills. Let them know how they have used these to feel better and to adapt to or overcome other situations. Identify how they can use their strengths and skills in their current learning circumstance. 
  • Limit media exposure and the amount of time spent talking about COVID. 
  • Make time for fun and other stress busters!

Talking with your C​hild about COVID ​19

  • Talking to Kids about COVID 19 (Anxiety Canada)
  • Parent Guide Talking to Children about COVID 19 (National Association of Psychologists) 
  • Video: How to Talk to Your Children About COVID 19
  • COVID 19 resources - different languages
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle

Supporting your Child’s Mental Health and Well-being

  • Back to School (Hamilton Health Sciences)​​
  • Six Tips to Support Your Children's Mental Wellness (elementary and secondary) and Prepare for the Start of School
  • A Guide for Parents: Caring for Kids with Mental Illness (Children's Mental Health Ontario)
  • The 2020 Back-to-School List for Teens' Emotional Well-Being
  • How to support your child's mental health during COVID 19
  • 12 easy and fun mental health activities for Parents to help their children 
  • Kids Have Stress Too Coping, Resiliency Strategies (Psychology Foundation of Canada) 
  • Realistic Thinking Anxiety BC
  • Coping Strategies for Supporting Children and Youth
  • Helpful Thinking Strategies - Challenging Anxious Thoughts
  • ​ Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Parenting and Family Well-being Tips

  • A Resource for Parents for the Transition Back to School (Psychology Foundation of Canada)​
  • Back to School Tips for Parents (for Self and for your Children) - CMHO
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 2​ - Keeping it Positive
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 4​ - Bad Behaviour 
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 5 - Keep Calm and Manage Stress
  • COVID-19 Parenting Tip 6 - Talking about COVID-19
  • 8 ​Tips to Help Families Stay Emotionally Regulated 

Resources to help families support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Back to School (Hamilton Health Sciences)​
  • Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
  • Social Story for ASD

Kerry's Place - COVID-19 Resources

  • Page 12 from: ROCK resources for families COVID-19 for Children with Autism
  • How to Explain a Global Health Crisis to Children with Autism 
  • Everyone Gets Sick Sometimes: A Story 
  • Staying Home: Quick Guide to Staying Inside and Staying Safe 
  • 14 Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times 
  • Helping People with ASD Manage Masks

What are the signs my child may be struggling with their mental health?

This year, because of the presence and impact of COVID-19, many if not all children and parents will have some stress, worry and anxious feelings as schools reopen. This is a normal adaptive response to a stressful situation. The majority of children, with the support of their families, communities and school staff, will manage these feelings and will adapt to changes as schools reopen. 

For some students, they may experience new or increased struggles with their mental health. Changes in behaviour or emotions can be a sign that students need more support for their mental health. 

Here are some signs to watch for:
  • Changes in behaviour or emotions that seem out of proportion even with the current circumstances (e.g., angry outbursts, depressed mood, sense of panic, irritability, misbehaviour, sleep disturbances, change in appetite, physically fighting).
  • The changes last most of the day, every day.
  • The changes last for a sustained period of time (e.g., more than a week).
  • The changes seem to interfere with your child’s or teen’s thoughts, feelings or daily functioning – for example, they may not do activities they normally enjoy, they’re crying more than usual, or they may not interact with you as much as they usually do.
  • Your child or teen tells you they’re feeling sad or anxious a lot.
  • If your child expresses thoughts of hurting them self, has a plan to die by suicide, or has attempted to kill themselves Seek help from a mental health professional immediately by calling: 911 or ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or your family doctor or current therapist

Additional Resources

  • Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child (SMHO)
  • School Mental Health Ontario - How to Talk with your Child when you feel Concerned they may be Struggling with a Mental Health Concern

Where can I get help for my child’s mental health?

Help is available at school, and in the community. At school, speak to your child’s teacher or other trusted staff person. Your teacher, other school staff and child and youth counsellors and social workers are available to help. How to Work with your School to Access Support for your Child's Mental Health

In the community  help is available:
  • ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
  • KidsHelp Phone  Call a Counsellor:  1-800-668-6868; Text a Counsellor: 686868; Live Chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/
  • Find local Halton resources using the Halton Community Resource Database
  • We Matter - Indigenous Youth Support   An Indigenous youth-led nationally registered organization dedicated to Indigenous youth support, hope and life promotion
  • Black Youth Helpline-416-258-9944- 9 am- 10pm every day
  • Taibu Community Health Centre: 416-644-3536
  • LGBT+ Youthline: 647-694-4275
  • Positive Space Network
  • Indus Community Services: 905- 275-2369
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle

Student Section


Preparing for Schools Re-opening

  • Gather information about what your school day will look like.
    For example,
    • What time will you get up in the morning?
    • What does your morning routine look like?
    • Will you be attending school, learning remotely or a combination?
    • What will your schedule look like each day?
    • How will you get to school (and home again)?
    • What time does school/class start?
    • What days of the week will you be attending school?
    • Who is your teacher? SERT? EA? Principal? Secretary? Custodian? Bus driver?
    • What classes are you taking?
    • What are the classroom routines?
    • When and where will you have lunch?
    • What are the procedures for going to the bathroom?
    • How will classroom routines be different?
  • Review and practice preventative measures of hand hygiene, physical distancing, respiratory hygiene, and wearing of non-medical masks, cloth masks and face coverings.
    • This helps you to be comfortable with these practices so that doing them at school will feel familiar. These practices can also help you to feel less worried or stressed because they are active steps that they can take to help protect yourself and others. 
  • Become familiar with the self-assessment tool and bookmark it for easy reference. Tell your parent/guardian or teacher if you are feeling unwell.
  • Write down all of the questions that you have, including where to find information and who can help you answer questions
  • Practice kindness and compassion to yourself and others. If you or someone else is being treated unfairly, or being bullied or harassed, tell your teacher, other staff at school and your parent. 
  • Focus on the positive (as opposed to the negative). What are you looking forward to when you are at school?
  • Take care of your physical and mental well-being everyday.  See the next section below for strategies. 
  • Go to trusted news sites to ensure your have accurate information. Limit your media exposure and the amount of time you are talking about COVID. It is easy to feel saturated and overwhelmed by negative talk and focusing on stressful situations.
  • Make time for fun and other stress busters!

Additional Resources on COVID-19

  • My back-to-school checklist during COVID-19​
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle
  • COVID 19 youth Hub jack.org  

Taking care of my mental health and well-being

  • ​ COVID 19 youth Hub jack.org  
  • Self-Care 101 for Students
  • Learning Brain vs. Stress Brain (video)
  • 5 Ways to help a Friend (poster)
  • Kids Help Phone Self Care Checklist
  • Kids Help Phone- How to calm down when you’re stressed
  •  12 Instant Stress Busters
  • Sleep Hygiene - Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

How do I know if I need help with my mental health? 

This year, because of the presence and impact of COVID 19, many if not all children, youth and parents will have some stress, worry and anxious feelings as schools re-open. This is a normal adaptive response to a stressful situation. The majority of youth, with the support of their families, communities and school staff,  will manage these feelings and will adapt to changes as schools re-open. 

For some children and youth, they may experience new or increased struggles with their mental health. Changes in behaviour or emotions can be a sign that you need more support for your mental health.

Here are some signs to watch for:
  • Changes in behaviour or emotions that seem out of proportion even with the current circumstances (e.g., angry outbursts, depressed mood, sense of panic, irritability, misbehaviour, sleep disturbances, change in appetite, physically fighting, substance misuse, self-harm/self-injury).
  • The changes last most of the day, every day.
  • The changes last for a sustained period of time (e.g., more than a week).
  • The changes seem to interfere with your thoughts, feelings or daily functioning – for example, you may not do activities you normally enjoyed, you’re crying more than usual, and you may be withdrawing from and not spending as much time with others as you usually do
  • You’re feeling sad or anxious a lot.
  • You have thoughts of hurting yourself or have made a plan or have attempted to die by suicide -  seek help from a mental health professional immediately Call 911,  ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, or KidsHelp Phone  Call a Counsellor:  1-800-668-6868; Text a Counsellor: 686868; Live Chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/​ or your family physician or current therapist. You can also talk to your teacher or other staff member who will help get your support.

Where can I get help?

Help is available at school, and in the community. At school, speak to your teacher or other trusted adult in the school. Your teacher, other school staff and child and youth counsellors and social workers are available to help you. Your parent can also speak to your teacher and ask for help for you.
  • Reaching Out is a resource to support student help-seeking by showcasing different ways to start the conversation with a trusted person and what to expect after reaching out.
In the community there are people who can help:
  • ROCK Crisis Line at 905-878-9785 available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
  • KidsHelp Phone  Call a Counsellor:  1-800-668-6868; Text a Counsellor: 686868; Live Chat: https://kidshelpphone.ca/live-chat/​
  • Find local Halton resources using the Halton Community Resource Database
  • We Matter - Indigenous Youth Support   An Indigenous youth-led nationally registered organization dedicated to Indigenous youth support, hope and life promotion
  • Black Youth Helpline-416-258-9944- 9 am- 10pm every day
  • Taibu Community Health Centre: 416-644-3536
  • LGBT+ Youthline: 647-694-4275
  • Positive Space Network
  • Indus Community Services: 905- 275-2369
  • First Peoples Wellness Circle
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