As students return to the classroom and schools respond to the increasing mental health needs of students, a toolkit is now available to support students, teachers and parents.
Developed and produced by the CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg – Youth Mental Health Promotion Team, we are pleased to provide another tool that can build mental health promotion into student’s daily routines. This toolkit will provide guidance on how to support the mental health of students with activities that they can do alongside a peer or a parent/caregiver. This interactive toolkit includes colouring pages, journaling, an affirmation jar activity, tips on how to start a conversation about feelings, and a multitude of resources that are at their fingertips.
For students, feelings of worry and uncertainty about returning to new systems and procedures of classroom education and engaging with others is natural and expected. This toolkit aims to support students who are currently back in the classroom or those who are needing to e-learn within their home. It contains information about the common emotions students may be feeling as they think about the stress of returning to school and guides readers through coping strategies to build greater resiliency.
Throughout COVID-19 we have been reminded that our mental health matters and it is a human right to engage in mental health supports and services. We continue to strive towards reducing the stigma around mental health and illness and this is another step towards empowering students, teachers, and parents in building their confidence on how to improve their mental health and well-being.
Research is telling us that students’ anxiety levels are higher and their disconnection to social supports has been reduced which has led to growing isolation. This toolkit reminds us that we can physically distance ourselves and socially connect with others and most importantly ourselves.
Click here to view the Toolkit for Students. For more information, you can contact Stephen Sutherland at ssutherland@cmhawpg.mb.ca