Community partners bring specialized knowledge, lived experience and trusted relationships within those who reside in the region, particularly for cultural and linguistic communities. When schools and organizations work together, they help build a more connected and responsive system of care where every student can access support that feels comfortable and affirming. 

What the research tells us 

• Strong school-community partnerships improve access to mental health information and care, particularly for racialized, newcomer and Indigenous students. 
• Working together, schools and community organizations can reduce stigma about mental health and related services (e.g., mental health promotion events at community centres, mental health help-seeking information for young people involved in sports). 
• Mental health and well-being messaging can be amplified when echoed across partners (e.g., public health information sheets and workshops reference school mental health resources, cultural organizations highlight mental health help available for students). 
• Cultural alignment between services and student identity strengthens trust, engagement and outcomes. 
• Schools that partner with community organizations report higher family participation, improved well-being, and reduced stigma around mental health. 
• Effective partnerships require ongoing communication, role clarity and shared goals between school and board staff and community providers. 

Why this is important 

Many students and families rely on community networks, faith organizations, cultural associations, settlement agencies, public health units, recreation centres and identity-specific service providers for mental health and wellness support. These community organizations offer responsive and low-barrier supports that reflect the expertise and practices of communities within the context of specific challenges the community may face. They also help to reduce stigma related to mental health help-seeking by embedding wellness messaging in ways most responsive to the audiences they serve. 

By working together, schools and community partners can: 

• Create pathways to support students and families. 
• Amplify consistent messaging related to mental wellness, sources of support and help-seeking. 
• Assist with stigma reduction by normalizing conversations about mental health. 
• Ensure that services reflect cultural values, languages and lived experiences. 
• Strengthen trust and communication between schools and the families they serve. 
• Build a coordinated circle of care that bridges education, health and community systems. 

A mentally healthy school engages internal and external partners to set the stage for a positive learning and teaching environment. 
– school administrator, Ontario, 2025 

Building meaningful partnerships 

Mentally healthy schools collaborate with cultural and community organizations through approaches that are: 

• intentional – partnerships are aligned with school goals and guided by student needs and voices 
• respectful – schools value the unique expertise that cultural and community partners bring 
• reciprocal – information and learning flow both ways, strengthening mutual understanding 
• sustainable – partnerships are nurtured through shared planning, ongoing communication and reflection 

Practical ways to build strong relationships include: 

• hosting cultural advisory groups 
• inviting organizations to co-develop wellness programming and professional learning 
• establishing clear protocols for referrals, consent and confidentiality 
• building clear, accessible and transparent access to information 
• co-creating culturally affirming resources and events 

When collaboration is rooted in trust and respect, community organizations and schools become stronger together, offering students and families a strong circle of support.  

A shared responsibility 

Supporting student mental health through community partnerships is a collective effort: 

• School staff and leaders understand board protocols and initiate and sustain respectful, reciprocal relationships. 
• Community organizations share cultural and community expertise and deliver responsive supports. 
• Families and caregivers help bridge school and community connections. 
• Students contribute their lived experience and insights to ensure services meet real needs. 

Together, these partnerships build stronger, more connected systems that help every student feel supported and understood.