COVID-19 School Information

Overview

As the pandemic continues, many people are still experiencing increased stress and anxiety. It is important to prioritize and centre conversations around mental health and offer support to each other, especially children and youth. The following resources are starters to help in these discussions. Remember, help is available, you are not alone.

SMCS will continue to make every effort to address sources of stress and extend flexibility within our updated administrative policies, and work with students and families to provide support and resources, as required. We continue to prioritize early identification of learning needs and provide students with academic and emotional support to help them succeed.

The Student Wellness Office provides additional supports, meaningful collaboration, and appropriate referrals. Parents, guardians, and teachers are encouraged to make a referral to Antoinette Morgan, the Interim Student Wellness Officer, if they have any concerns about a student, such as mental health, coping, etc. Don’t forget, support is available.

Resources

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Back to School Resources during COVID-19: Support Parents and Students provide strategies and resources for parents to identify and help with children, tips for parents as their children return to school, tips for parents well-being.
• COVID-19 Learning Hub (aboutkidshealth.ca) Sick Kids Hospital. Resources for parents and child available including videos, information about coping, parenting, well-being, videos to support sleep and mindfulness etc. available.
• Canada Suicide Prevention Service | Crisis Services Canada focuses on strengthening regional service delivery and addressing gaps in mental health and suicide prevention and support. Need Help? Call: 1-833-456-4566 available 24/7 or text: 45645 (English only) available 4 p.m.-12 a.m. ET.
• School Mental Health Ontario. Parents can increase their knowledge of mental health and how schools in Ontario support mental health as well as learn how to work with schools to support their child’s mental health.
• Bounce Back Ontario. Free skill-building programme managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association that is designed to help youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress, anger, and worry.

Helplines:

• Kids Help Phone provides confidential support services for ages 5-20 via phone, text, or online counselling. Toll-free: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
• LGBT Youthline. Confidential, non-judgemental, and informed LGBTTQQ2SI peer support. Text 647-694-4275 or live web chat.
• Indigenous Hope for Wellness Helpline Crisis counselling and mental health supports available 24 hours a day, seven days per week  to all Indigenous  peoples across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors. Online chat available or phone 1-855-242-3310.
• The Black Youth Helpline 1-833-294-8650 Services offered from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., providing supports to all youth, but specifically respond to the need for a culturally appropriate service for Black youth.

Webinars

• Free Webinar, Sept 23 at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. from the UTGSU Official Mental Health Committee called Embracing Changes: Managing Anxiety, Returning to a Norm with Vivian Zhang, Clinical Therapist. Topics to be covered in this webinar include the ongoing pandemic and the subsequent increase in our collective stress and anxiety. Information on coping, additional resources, and adjusting to this new ‘normal’ will also be explored.