Mentally healthy schools and learning environments
There are many ways to promote mental health in schools and classrooms. Approaches vary depending on your preferences, the needs of your students and the local context. At its core, a mentally healthy school and classroom is a learning environment where every student feels like they belong.
Reflect on your practice
Maintaining positive relationships with students within a caring school community and safe, welcoming, inclusive classroom, contributes to students’ social-emotional wellness and readiness to learn. In addition, mentally healthy classrooms have a critical role in facilitating social emotional skill development – via instruction, embedded opportunities for practice and ongoing modelling. Use our reflection tools to reflect on the practices used in your school or board and to identify strengths and areas for growth.
School and classroom strategies that support student mental health (Tier 1)
Many of the suggestions below are things you might be doing already. They come naturally to you as a caring educator. The goal is to use these practices consistently and with intention.
Resources to support mentally healthy learning environments
Mentally Healthy Back to School Support Package
How to tell if a student is thriving
Often, when we think about mental health, problems in this area come to mind. While it’s important to have an eye out for students who may be having difficulty in this area, it’s also good to watch for signs of wellness among your students. Pausing to notice what is going well can help us to keep perspective. Remember, most students are mentally healthy most of the time.
This list below is not exhaustive, but offers a few indications to suggest that a student has good mental health. Noticing these signs can help you to maintain a wellness bias in relation to mental health.
Although most students are resilient and do not develop emotional distress, some will require additional support because of stressful circumstances, vulnerabilities, or experience of trauma. Learn what to do if you’re concerned about a student.