Mental Health

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. 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord ~ Psalm 31:24