Do you have a mental health concern?
- Are you a student experiencing stress, worry or sadness?
- Are you a parent wondering how to support your child?
- Are you Board staff inquiring on behalf of a student?
If you are in need of urgent attention, please call 911 or go to your local emergency department.
If you are in crisis, please call
- 24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin: 905-278-9036; 1-888-811-2222 (for all ages)
- Dufferin Child and Family Services Crisis Line: 519-941-1530 (for youth under 18)
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text "CONNECT" to 686868 (for any age).
- Black youth can text “RISE” to 686868.
- Indigenous Youth can text FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 to connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 (support for all Indigenous peoples across Canada)
- National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- Black Youth Help Line: 1-833-294-8650 or 416-285-9944 (blackyouth.ca)
- LGBT2Q+ Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688 (youthline.ca)
- Naseeha Mental Health Hotline for Muslim Individuals: 1-866-NASEEHA (627-3342) (naseeha.org)
Global events over the past few years have affected the daily lives of all students and families, creating a need for DPCDSB to be responsive to student well-being. The DPCDSB approach to mental health and well-being is faith-based, inspired by scripture, and rooted in human dignity. In line with Catholic Social Teaching, there is preferential concern for those most in need. The 2025-2028 Mental Health and Well-Being Guiding Framework shows how DPCDSB will respond to students' needs to be validated, motivated, and feel a sense of belonging. Well-being strategies are positioned as the foundational work of all staff to welcome and include students, to understand them, to promote mentally healthy habits, and create a supportive learning environment in which all students can thrive. The Mental Health and Well-Being Guiding Framework builds on the previous Guiding Framework, is an extension of the Board's Multi-Year Strategic Plan, a reflection of student voice, and an articulation of the plan to help each student excel. "The God of all grace will restore, support, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10)
Accompanying the Mental Health and Well-Being Guiding Framework is DPCDSB's 2025-2026 Mental Health and Addictions Annual Action Plan. Developed yearly, this plan outlines the system priorities and key actions for how staff will promote and mental health and well-being and respond to student, family, and caregiver needs.
- Tip Sheet for Parents and Families: Supporting Mental Health and Wellness During the Return to School
- Everyday Mental Health Activities for Home
- Info Sheet for Parents and Families: Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child
- Prepare; Prevent; Respond: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Parents and Families During COVID-19 and Return to School
- Prepare; Prevent; Respond: Quick Reference for Youth Suicide Prevention
- How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child
- Helping Your Child Manage Digital Technology
- Crisis Help Lines and Community Resources
- Reaching Out Poster – SMHO
- Self-Love Practices for Black Youth – SMHO
- Kids Help Phone Poster
- Kids Help Phone RiseUp Poster
- No Problem Too Big or too Small: A help seeking resource for students by students
- Self-Care 101 for Students
- Mental Health Literacy and Anxiety Management Social Media Bundles
- Student Mental Health and Well-being Champions Resources
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord ~ Psalm 31:24