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The Avon Maitland District School Board seeks to support and enhance the mental health and well-being of Indigenous students across the district by collaborating with community partners and experts across the field.
We aim to provide identity affirming and culturally responsive services and supports in our daily practice.
First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework
First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework
“Mental wellness is supported by culture, language, Elders, families, and Creation and is necessary for healthy individual, community, and family life.”
– First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum (FNMWC) via Thunderbird
Tools and Resources to Support Well-Being
Tools and Resources to Support Well-Being
Soaring Together is a place designed to help First Nation youth make good choices and find useful resources to guide the journey through life. It’s rooted in Thunderbird’s Indigenous Wellness Framework that comes from Indigenous Knowledge and ways of being. This website is a journey through Hope, Belonging, Meaning, and Purpose. The journey starts here!
The Digital Toolkit provides hands-on ways for First Nations youth to use the resources on soaringtogether.ca in your own unique journey. It contains four distinct tools, which can be used on their own or together, in any order.
The Thunderbird Partnership Foundation is a leading culturally centred voice across Canada on First Nations mental illness, substance use and addictions. This toolkit supports youth to aspire to live long and good lives by exploring and reforming the wisdom from Indigenous ancestors. Thunderbird Partnership Foundation is working closely with School Mental Health Ontario to develop school-based intervention to support youth. See the Thunderbird tool kit linked above or access the Thunderbird Wellness App for more information.
School Mental Health Ontario is the governing body for school based mental health services. They have partnered with Indigenous community partners to ensure identity-affirming school based interventions and life promotion. Included are resources for school counsellors, educators, caregivers, and students.
First Peoples Wellness Circle is partnering with Children's Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) and School Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) on provincial projects related to the implementation of Right Time, Right Care. Their past projects address topics such as life promotion, substance misuse, and the development of an upcoming student wellness kit.
Mental Health Services and Crisis Lines
Mental Health Services and Crisis Lines
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 mental health service offering free, confidential, support or crisis services to youth across the country. Services can be accessed by phone 1-800-668-6868 or TEXT 686868
The Hope for Wellness Helpline is available to all Indigenous people across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are reachable by telephone 1-855-242-3310 and online ‘chat’ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Both telephone and online chat services are available in English and French. Telephone support is also available upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.
Visit the Mental Health & Well-Being section of the AMDSB Website to find resources, at home activities, community service providers, crisis lines, and caregiver webinars.
One Stop Talk is a free, confidential service that lets youth under the age of 18 or their caregiver get immediate mental health support with a registered therapist.
Reach us by phone or online with a video or audio call:
Monday to Friday: 12PM – 8PM
Saturday: 12PM – 4PM
Call 1 855 416 TALK (8255) or connect online from anywhere in Ontario.
Image source: First Peoples Wellness Circle
"Mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional. This balance is enriched as people have:
HOPE for their future and those of their families that is grounded in a sense of identity, unique Indigenous values, and having a belief in spirit;
a sense of BELONGING and connectedness within their families, to community, and to culture;
MEANING and an understanding of how their lives and those of their families and communities are part of creation and a rich history;
and finally, a sense of PURPOSE in their daily lives whether it is through education, employment, care-giving activities, or cultural ways of being and doing;" (Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, 2025)
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