Resources for Teachers

Making a Difference - An Educators' Guide to Child and Youth Mental Health Problems (Third Edition)

One in five students experiences mental health challenges, but few receive any treatment. These students remain in the classroom, where their mental health challenges can affect their academic achievement. This easy to read guide has the essentials that educators need to know in order to identify and support students with mental health needs in the school setting.

Written by Don Buchanan, Patricia Colton, and Kristen Chamberlain with contributions from FORCE Society for Kids Mental Health and the Children?s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Student Support Leadership Initiative, Hamilton District Team(September 2010)

When Something's Wrong: Ideas for Teachers (Quand ça ne va pas: Aide aux enseignants aux prises avec des élèves en difficulté)

Learn how to recognize and deal with mood, thinking and behaviour problems in young people.

Toronto/ON, Canada: Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation(Rev.2 2/2005)

Assessment Toolkit for Bullying, Harassment, and Peer Relations at School

This toolkit is a companion document to the CPHA Safe School Study Research Report. It was designed for teachers, school administrators, and ministries of education to address some of the pressing needs identified in that Report. It provides a standard way to measure the nature and prevalence of school peer relationship problems, standards for quality programs, and a common set of tools to assess the impact of school-based programs. Also includes tips for students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Totten, Dr. M. et al. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Public Health Association(2004)

Acting Out: Understanding and Reducing Aggressive Behaviour in Children and Youth

Acting Out is a valuable tool for anyone who works with young people, including teachers and school administrators, day-care and recreation centre workers, youth shelter workers, social service workers, sports coaches, youth leaders, and camp counsellors and directors. This book: explains various types of aggressive behaviour exhibited by young people, identifies factors related to aggressive behaviour, distinguishes between normal aggression and aggression that is of greater concern, gives practical advice on how to address aggression in children and youth, highlights proven prevention and intervention strategies, and indicates strategies to avoid discusses the assessment and diagnosis of more serious aggressive behaviour in young people.

Wolfe, D., PhD Toronto/Ontario, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Iris the Dragon's Lesson Plans

Iris has been busy developing lesson plans to help educators address mental health issues in the classroom. The lesson plans use Ontario Curriculum expectations but can be assimilated to any curriculum standards. Other ideas include: Design a School Mascot For Mental Health Awareness; Educate Your School About Mental Health Through the Use of A Play; and Develop an Iris Poster Campaign around Your School.

Grass, G. Canada : Iris the Dragon Inc.

Talking about Mental Illness: A guide for developing an awareness program for youth

Contains all of the information, support and tools teachers will need to implement an awareness program that has been proven to bring about positive change in students’ knowledge and attitudes about mental illness. This program supports teachers in four ways:

• it outlines the links between the program and the new Ontario Secondary School Curriculum Guidelines;
• it provides teachers with practical, ready-to-use information on mental illness;
• it offers an opportunity to meet and interact with people who have experienced mental illness first-hand; and
• it provides links to community resources and support for further information and professional help.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(2001)

The ABCs of Mental Health - A Teacher Resource

This Resource was developed, in response to requests by teachers to The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for mental health information, in a user-friendly format, about children from about age 3 to age 18 years. It provides information formatted to be accessible, easy-to-use, and helpful for teachers and other educational professionals who wish to recognize and understand behaviour that causes them concern. It provides prevention and early intervention strategies to promote learning and mental health, and tips on finding help for children with mental health problems. If you are a new user, please first read the 'Introduction to Resource' and 'Mental Health for All Children' (below) before utilizing the Resource.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre(2008)

Orientation to Child + Youth Mental Health Services: A Guide for Teachers

West Vancouver, BC, Canada: The FORCE Society Kids' for Mental Health(2008)

TeachADHD

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: AboutKidsHealth

Growing Up Resilient: Ways to build resilience in children and youth

Bouncing back from today’s stresses is one of the best life skills children and youth can develop. Growing Up Resilient is a must-read for adults (including parents, teachers and front-line workers) who want to increase resilience in the children and youth in their lives. This resource has been awarded Curriculum Services Canada's Seal of Quality, recommending it as a reference for educators and others who work or volunteer in schools.

Barankin, T. & Khanlou, N. Toronto, ON, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(2007)

Mental Health First Aid Canada

The MHFA Canada program aims to improve mental health literacy, and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential, or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague. The program does not teach people how to be therapists. It does teach people how to: Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health problems; provide initial help; and guide a person towards appropriate professional help.

Canada : Mental Health First Aid Canada