- H&PE Elementary Resources | Ophea. Includes a variety of mental health and well-being lesson plans for grades 1 to 8.
- School Mental Health Ontario | Helps school districts enhance student mental health through the use of evidence-based strategies and services.
- Teaching tool: supporting mental wellness | Niagara Region Public Health. Evidence-based resources focus on promoting positive mental health in classrooms by providing wellness tools that work to increase protective factors and resiliency.
Mental Well-Being
Mental health is important for overall health and wellness, and there are many ways to promote mental health in schools and classrooms. As an educator, you play an important role in fostering a learning environment that is conducive for a mentally healthy school and classroom where all students feel like they belong. Ensuring that classrooms and school communities are safe, welcoming and inclusive contributes to students' social-emotional well-being and readiness to learn.
If you are looking for tips on how to address certain issues or topics, please complete the school health request form.
For a list of local mental health supports, go to Mental Health and Well-Being.
- H&PE Secondary Resources | Ophea. Includes a variety of mental health lesson plans for grades 9 to 12.
- MentalHealthLiteracy.org provides a variety of resources including:
- Educators section. Numerous programs that are customizable to the needs of educators and students.
- Mental Health and High School Curriculum Guide. A complete set of educational tools including online modules, lesson plans, and resources proven to increase mental health literacy of both students and teachers.
- Educator resource guide for supporting student mental health and well-being | School Mental Health Ontario. Designed to connect educators with the resources and tools they need to support student mental health.
- Kids Help Phone | E-mental health services with a variety of resources including a phone/text number for one to one crisis support.
- Positive Mental Health Toolkit | Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health. Promotes positive mental health practices and perspectives within the school environment.
- Wayfinder | School Mental Health Ontario. Sequenced guide for K-12 educators to teach about mental health.
Body Image
You can support students to build body appreciation. When students feel good about their bodies, they have better mental and physical health outcomes. Body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for poorer relationships, poorer self-care, higher-risk behaviours (e.g., substance use), and eating disorders.
- Lessons and Resources | MediaSmarts. Search 'body image' to find lesson plans, tip sheets and other resources on teaching about body image.
- Outreach and Education | NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre). Sessions blend best practices in health and education policy to increase your confidence in navigating the vast array of information around food, weight, exercise, and health in a non-discriminatory manner. Includes workshops for educators and students.
- Beyond Images | NEDIC. Free online lesson plans for Grades 4-8 include activities that make a positive difference in combating appearance-based bullying and negative stereotypes.
- Prevention Services | Eating Disorders Ontario. A suite of interventions and strategies to reduce disordered eating.