We want our students to know that resources are available to them in the community and online to support their mental health and well-being. This content is intended for Grade 7 to 12 students. For resources to support students in Kindergarten to Grade 6, please refer to: Parent and Caregiver Mental Health Resources.

If you are worried about your own or a friend’s well-being or mental health, please reach out to one of the resources listed and connect with their teacher, school staff, or a trusted adult for support. I need help now from Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council.

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, they’re here to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7. They offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.

Front Door

Front Door is your starting point for accessing child and youth mental health services and supports in Waterloo Region. They work 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. They listen, offer support and can help you identify next steps including access to other services.

Here24/7

Here24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo-Wellington. All you need to do is reach out. They’ll work together with you to understand what you need and work to get you connected. Here24/7 does the intake, assessment, and referrals for most local government-funded addictions and mental health services. If you need a service outside what Here 24/7 can offer, they’ll do their best to link you directly.

Maintaining Mental Wellness During COVID-19 | WRSPC

Maintaining Mental Wellness During COVID-19 from the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC) is a list of locally developed information and tip sheets, as well as a list of local, provincial, and national support services that can be accessed virtually during this time. While we all play our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our population physically healthy, the measures we are taking such as physical distancing, self-quarantine, and self-isolation may lead to new or heightened mental health concerns such as loneliness, anxiety, or depression.

Jack.org

Jack.org is a newly created national youth website for young Canadians addressing the impact of COVID-19. The site brings together resources and self-help information through an innovative partnership between jack.org, SMH-ON and the Kids Help-Phone. Visit the site at www.jack.org/covid.

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO)

SMHO works together with Ontario school districts to support student mental health. SMHO has a youth group called THRIVE, which includes the participation of one of our very own WRDSB students. THRIVE has created several resources in the past year to attend to student mental health issues. They also have developed this webpage in response to student mental health and COVID-19.

The SMHO website also has a section dedicated to general student mental health needs and outlines your role as a student in creating positive mental health in your school community, and outlines how to take action and use resources to help with this as well as taking care of your own mental health. There is a resource on how to reach out for help as well as how to respond to a friend who may be struggling with mental health issues.

Youth at Risk Toolkit | Centre for Suicide Prevention

A Suicide Prevention Toolkit for YOUTH, developed by the Centre for Suicide Prevention. This toolkits describes the myths and facts on suicide prevention and gives ideas on how to ask for help if you are a youth and struggling with thoughts of suicide. It also provides ideas on how to help a friend who might be struggling. Resources to support youth who lost someone from suicide are also included.

Self Care and Self Awareness Guide | Starts With Me

Starts With Me’s Self Care and Self Awareness Guide provides everyday practices to improve wellbeing, promote resilience, and nurture self-compassion. The contents of this guide will help you follow a path of self-awareness, self-compassion, and emotional wellbeing that will help you cultivate good mental health.

Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries

Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries provides exceptional counselling and outreach in a safe, caring and respectful environment.

These resources are selected as being potentially helpful to children and youth who want to learn more about well-being, and positive mental health.

Mindyourmind

Mindyourmind exists in the space where mental health, wellness, engagement and technology meet. We work with community partners and young people aged 14 to 29 to co-create interactive tools and innovative resources to build capacity and resilience.

Teenmentalhealth.org

Teenmentalhealth.org is designed to help improve the mental health of youth using the best scientific evidence available to enhance the understanding of adolescent mental health.

student.yoomagazine.net

WRDSB is a registered user with My Health Magazine. Create an account and enter the student code “WRDSB” to access health and wellness programs delivered through a series of interactive, online resources designed for young people.

Region of Waterloo Public Health

The Region of Waterloo provides many services that may be helpful to youth and students, such as reduced bus fare and health-related matters.

The Little Black Book

The Little Black Book was developed by and last updated in 2014 by the City of Kitchener Youth Services. It’s not meant to tell you what to do, just to let you know about some options in this community. The list on the first page will give you an idea of the kind of info you can find in The Little Black Book. Check it out and use it! Almost all of the services are free. Just call the number given. If you don’t want to call yourself, ask a friend or an adult to call for you.

Beautiful Minds Student Handbook

Beautiful Minds is based on the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health program “Talking About Mental Illness” (TAMI) – an awareness program proven to be effective in bringing about positive change in people’s knowledge about mental health, and in reducing stigma that surrounds mental health issues.

Be Safe

The Be Safe app helps you make decisions in a crisis such as safety plans, and options for getting help in Waterloo Region.

isearchmycommunity

isearchmycommunity.ca is a one-stop-shop for information on a wide range of community services including basic needs, crisis, legal, education, health, immigration, recreation, individual/family support, youth, seniors, childcare, and much more! The information is available to the public and professionals at no cost.

Exercises for Emotion Regulation

Exercises for Emotion Regulation is excellent resource on learning to monitor and regulate emotions and breathing, with structured exercises to practice.

Here are 10 suggestions for improving your study concentration

Memorization Tricks

Remembering is a tricky business. We can remember some things easily yet cannot seem to remember other things. We remember some things throughout our lives, while others things seem to come in one door in our mind and go out the other. There is no “magic pill” for remembering. But here are some tips that can help.

Promoting Well-Being during COVID-19 | Mindfulness Everyday

This list of resources from Mindfulness Everyday provides support for teens and young adults with respect to mindfulness and well-being.