Every day, well-being is a shared responsibility that requires thoughtful and ongoing collaboration linking schools, families, and community partners. Increasing understanding and support of mental health and well-being is a key goal in our Strategic Plan.
Resources and Help: Mental Health
For easy reference, our staff have curated a list of valuable Mental Health Resources, including support for families and accessing online counselling.
Leadership: Burnaby School District
We recognize the critical importance of this work, and we’re committed to promoting mental health and well-being for all. As a District, we’ve created a vision and plan to meet key goals in promoting positive mental health in our school communities. Read our Mental Health Strategy Summary.
Read the opinion-editorial in the Vancouver Sun by Burnaby Board of Education Chair Gary Wong: “Schools, Communities Can Help Children Cope Beyond Mental Health Week”
As part of our mental health strategy over the 2019-20 school year, we provided teachers with information and tools to help teach students about:
- the importance of sleep for health and learning
- how to get enough sleep
See our resources: Sleep – What Students and Families Need to Know
Mental Health: a Shared Understanding
Mental health isn’t simply the absence of mental illness, it’s a state of well-being, and we all have it. Just as we look after our physical health, we must also look after our mental health. We can do so by:
- developing social emotional skills, such as understanding and managing emotions
- building strong relationships
- feeling connected to our communities, and
- understanding what stress is and how to cope with it.
Mental health is an important part of overall health, and can change from day-to-day. It’s the state of being able to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and manage challenges.
Information: for School Staff, Parents, and Students
We’re sharing the following links about how each of us can promote positive mental health and reduce the stigma associated with asking for help.
https://mentalhealthweek.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/MHW19_School_Overview-ENG.pdf
https://mentalhealthweek.ca/toolkit/
https://foundrybc.ca/info-tools/mental-health-substance-use/