This page includes basic messaging designed for use by school administrators to promote the topic of mental health among students, parents, and the general school community. Included are:
- Morning announcement scripts
- Newsletter inserts
- Social media messages
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Healthy Schools contact at HPEPH.
Topics on this page include:
Topic: The Big 5 for Mental Health
Images & media
Download a package of images to support social media and newsletter content.
Social messages
| The Big 5! are ways that we can improve our physical and mental health. Manage stress and improve your mood with good sleep, physical activity, social connections, and by eating well and helping others. mentalhealthliteracy.org/big-5-for-mental-health |
| Sleep is one of the Big 5 for mental health. Getting enough sleep helps us cope with stress, handle problems, and think more positively. Find out how much sleep you should be getting: csepguidelines.ca |
| DYK…being active can improve mental health? It’s one of the Big 5! Being active helps us cope with stress and boosts our mood. Learn how much activity is recommended for children and youth: csepguidelines.ca/guidelines/children-youth |
| DYK…what we eat can improve our mental health? It’s one of the Big 5! Fueling our bodies with a variety of foods and drinking water also helps fuel our brains! Doing so helps us improve our energy and mood, and to be at our best. mentalhealthliteracy.org/big-5-for-mental-health |
| Social connection is one of the Big 5 for mental health. Positive relationships are important to our health and happiness. Connection gives us a sense of belonging and helps us feel less lonely. Learn more about Canada’s guidelines for social connection: socialconnectionguidelines.org/en/individual-guidelines |
| Helping others is one of the Big 5 for mental health. Helping others makes you and others happy. People who regularly help others are in better health themselves. Who can you help today? mentalhealthliteracy.org/big-5-for-mental-health |
Topic: Mental Health
Morning Announcement Message | Audience |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – Did you know that mental health is important for all of us? When you have good mental health, you feel happy and positive, you do well in school, you have healthy relationships with family and friends, you can manage your feelings and you can bounce back from a tough time. What does good mental health mean to you? | Students |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – Everyone has bad days or feels stressed sometimes. Not all stress is bad. Small amounts of stress can make you feel energized and help you get things done like schoolwork or chores around the house. Stress isn’t good for us when there is too much, or when it lasts for a long time. Learn more about stress and how you can handle it. | Students |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – When was the last time you paid attention to your mental health? Just like our physical health, we need to look after our mental health. This is called self-care. Getting enough sleep, eating well, reducing screen time, and being active are everyday things you can do to take care of yourself. | Students |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – Want an easy stress buster? Get active! Physical activity releases ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain, which can decrease stress, help you sleep better, focus your mind, and boost your self- esteem. Being in nature makes a difference too! What activities do you enjoy? | Students |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – It’s important to take care of yourself! Do you know the amount of sleep that you should be getting and why it’s important for your mental health? You should aim for [INSERT CONTENT FOR ELEMENTARY: 9-11 hours each night if you’re 5-13 years old OR INSERT CONTENT FOR SECONDARY: 8-10 hours each night if you are 14-17 years old]. Lack of sleep is linked to feelings of sadness. To help improve your sleep, stay off screens for at least 30 minutes before bedtime, keep your room cool, dark, and quiet, and go to bed at the same time every night. | Students |
| Mental Health Matters! Here’s your message for the day – It’s okay to not be okay. We all can get overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. Problems don’t have to be big to talk to someone about them. Let your parents or other adults you trust know how you’re feeling. At school, you can talk to a teacher, coach, principal, or school social worker or youth worker. You can call or text Kids Help Phone 24/7 if there’s something on your mind. | Students |
Newsletter/Email Inserts | Audience |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Mental Health is important to all of us As parents and caregivers, you can support your child’s mental health by: • Taking care of yourself! • Building a warm and loving relationship with your child. • Talking about emotions and positive ways to cope with stress. • Providing a healthy, less stressful home environment. • Noticing if your child is struggling with their emotions, thoughts, or behaviours and getting help early. Learn more and access resources at the School Mental Health Ontario ‘By Your Side’ parent learning hub: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Parents: Take care of yourself! One of the most important things you can do to support your child’s mental health is to take care of yourself. This will give you the energy and strategies you need to be there for your family. Try to: • Make time for yourself. • Get enough sleep, eat well and be active. • Stay connected with family and friends. • Practice relaxation activities or mindfulness. For tips on caring for yourself while caring for others, visit: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! It’s all about relationships Positive and responsive parent-child relationships are the number one way to support children’s mental health. Take time every day to build a warm and loving relationship with your child by: • spending time together. • Telling and showing them they are loved and matter to you. • Supporting them to be their best and considering setbacks or failure as an opportunity to grow. For more tips on building a relationship with your child visit: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Helping your child with emotions It’s normal for children to experience different emotions. You can help your child by: • Talking with them. • Really listening to their thoughts and feelings. • Accepting their emotions. Everyone has their ups and downs. • Teaching them about emotions, how to recognize them, and how to name them. • Teaching them ways to solve problems and to cope with stress. • Being a positive role model. Take care of your own mental health and model good self-care. To learn more about emotional regulation visit: Raising Children The MEHRIT Centre | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Understanding kids and stress Stress is a normal part of life for everyone – even kids! Some stress can be good – it helps us to get things done. However, too much stress that lasts for a long time can be hard on our bodies and our mental health. Stress in kids can show up in many ways, like a stomach ache or a headache. Some might act differently like becoming quieter or eating too much or too little. Parents/caregivers can help children to understand stress and develop healthy ways to handle it. • Show you love them and talk openly about their feelings. • Encourage them to try calming activities like deep breathing or doing something active. • Be a good role model by using your own positive coping activities. • Talk with a teacher or health care provider if the stress continues. To learn more about kids and stress visit: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Helping your child handle stress You can help your child learn to handle stress. Coping strategies are unique to each person and can be very simple. Help them to find what works for them. Try: • Getting outdoors and enjoying nature. • Getting active – go for walks, dance, or play. • Practicing slow, deep breathing together. • Cooking and eating as a family. • Going to bed at the same time each night. • Having quiet time on your own. To learn more about kids and stress visit: School Mental Health Ontario Strong Minds Strong Kids | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…it Matters! Providing a healthy and less stressful home A healthy home base is important for child mental health and well-being. You can take steps to provide a less stressful home by: • Learning to manage your own stress so that you can better care for your family and role model positive coping strategies. • Creating predictable family routines and including time for physical activity, healthy eating, sleep, and relaxation. • Using positive parenting techniques that strengthen your relationship with your child and managing behaviour and emotions in a positive, non-hurtful way. Learn more about supporting your child’s well-being: School Mental Health Ontario Try these easy and fun activities: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Kids may need additional support for their mental health Children have different moods, thoughts, and behaviours all the time – this is a normal part of growing up. However, sometimes children will struggle a little more than usual and may need extra support for their mental health. How do you know if you should be concerned? Check out the information page and worksheet from School Mental Health Ontario to learn the signs that may signal a mental health problem, how to talk to your child about it, and where to get help. Visit: School Mental Health Ontario | Elementary – Parents |
| Child Mental Health…It Matters! Help is ‘By Your Side’ Parents and caregivers want their children to be as healthy as possible, including mental health, so they can grow and learn and deal with challenges. It’s not always easy. There are resources and supports to help! Visit the School Mental Health Ontario ‘By Your Side’ parent learning hub. Access fact sheets, videos, worksheets, and strategies to understand and support child mental health. Other supports available: Children’s Mental Health Services Hastings Prince Edward One Stop Talk Stress Less Booklets (Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada) | Elementary – Parents |
Social Media Messaging | Audience |
| As parents, we want our children to be healthy and well, including mental health, but it’s not always easy to know what to do. Help is here! Check out the free parent resource hub, ‘By Your Side’. The hub features videos, info pages, worksheets and more to help you support your child’s mental health. School Mental Health Ontario | Parents |
| How can you help a child or teen to thrive? It’s simple…just be a caring adult in their life. Spend time with them, listen to them, help them to solve problems. A strong bond with just one adult can boost a young person’s ability to be resilient. Learn more at: School Mental Health Ontario | Parents |
| Building mental health at home can be fun and easy! Try simple activities together as a family to learn about managing stress, identifying emotions, staying positive, and more. Visit: School Mental Health Ontario | Parents (Elementary) |
| Is your teen stressed? Sources of stress for young people come from different things like school, work, relationships, friendships, and more. Help your teen understand stress and develop healthy ways of managing it: School Mental Health Ontario | Parents (of teens) |
| Teenage years are full of changes. Being distant with parents is natural BUT your teen still needs you! Keep your relationship strong. Enjoy fun family outings, share in their interests, and talk with them. Learn more at: Caring for Kids | Parents (of teens) |
| Parents – take care of yourself! It’s important for your own well-being and it will help you to have more patience and energy to spread to your family. Learn more: School Mental Health Ontario | Parents |
| Is your child starting kindergarten? Starting school can be stressful for some children and parents. Help your child manage this stress by listening, responding, and connecting. Learn more in the Let’s go to Kindergarten booklet, and video. | Parents (of Kindergarten students) |
| Is your child starting high school? This can be an exciting and nervous time for all. As a parent, you can help with the transition to high school. Learn five tips to help your child thrive in the high school years: HPE Public Health | Parents (of Grade 9 students) |
Social Media Messaging – Secondary | Audience |
| Access ready-to-use social media bundles from School Mental Health Ontario. Developed with the help of Ontario High School Students! | Secondary Students |
| No problem is too big or too small! Reach out for help. Talk to a trusted friend, adult, parent, or teacher. Call Kids Help Phone anytime at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. | Secondary Students |
| It’s okay to not be okay. We all can get overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry alone. Talk to someone you trust – a parent, friend, teacher, or social worker. Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. | Secondary Students |
| Helping a friend with their mental health is important, but you don’t have to do it alone! Be there, listen, and connect them to help. Learn to support someone by following the ‘5 Golden Rules’: Jack.org | Secondary Students |
Topic: Exam Stress
Images & media
Download a package of images to support social media and newsletter content.
Content
Sample Content for Social Media / Morning Announcements | Audience |
| Exams are coming! It’s normal to feel a bit worried or tense when preparing for, or writing an exam. Sometimes the pressure you feel can help you focus and work hard. Other times it can feel too stressful. Learn about stress and how to manage it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjkEfwfECo | Secondary Students |
| Exam stress can feel like tense muscles or butterflies in your stomach. Your mind might go blank, it might be hard to concentrate, or you may feel overwhelmed. You might not sleep well. Your eating habits might change. Exam stress looks and feels different for everyone. Learn to recognize your signs of stress – This is the first step to coping with it. | Secondary Students |
| Exams can be stressful for many reasons. It might be a hard class, you might not know how to study, you may feel pressure to get a certain mark, or you might have stress in another part of your life. Knowing the reason for your stress can help you identify strategies to manage it. Check out the student journal from School Mental Health Ontario for tips and strategies. | Secondary Students |
| Exam stress. It’s real, but you can help manage it by taking breaks and using stress busters regularly. Include study breaks in your schedule. Refresh your body and brain with relaxation activities like deep breathing. Try this forest visualization exercise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0PO2xo7I9g. | Secondary Students |
| During exam time it can be challenging to find a healthy balance when studying. Remember to look after yourself – be active, eat well, get a good night’s sleep, and connect with friends and family. For more tips, go to the Self-Care handout from School Mental Health Ontario. | Secondary Students |
| Exams are around the corner, and with exams, might come stress! Studying well and being prepared can help you lower that exam stress! Check out these test prep tips from Kids Help Phone. | Secondary Students |
| If you’re feeling stressed about exams, you’re not alone. Talking to someone you trust and finding ways to cope during exam time can help. Reach out to your parents, teacher, school Social Worker or call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. | Secondary Students |
