well being

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital. Even in these unusual times, it is important to get the immediate help that you need. There are people ready and available to help.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, or the Hands Crisis Line at 1-844-287-9072.

For youth 16 years and older, the Mobile Crisis North Bay City Police and North Bay Regional Health Centre is operating regular hours Monday-Friday 8-6 available through the non-emergency line of the police service 705-497-5555.

Connex Ontario is a central database for services available at Connexontario.ca or by telephone 1-866-531-2600.

Children and teens can speak with a counsellor 24/7 by calling Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868.

Ask for help

Ask for help from a mental health professional if you feel unable to cope. Our Mental Health team at Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board is offering a variety of services to our NPSC community.

Mental Health Check-Ins (email)

Mental Health Check-Ins for parents and students are available via email. If you are looking for support for yourself or if you are concerned about your child's mental health while they are away from school, this may be an option for you. Emails will be monitored by mental health professionals between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday-Friday and are not designed to respond as a 24 hour crisis or emergency service.

Online Group Sessions for NPSC Caregivers

Our Mental Health team is facilitating online group sessions for caregivers to talk about their successes and struggles in our current situation. Group sessions will provide participants with the opportunity to talk about their situation and share strategies for how to manage the challenges facing caregivers during this time.

In order to make these sessions as convenient as possible for all of our families we will offer them in the morning, afternoon, or evening as required by families.

**At this time these group sessions are only being offered to parents and guardians of students in our elementary schools. If your child is in high school and you would be interested in accessing this service, please reach out using the email listed above.**

Contact tessierp@npsc.ca to access any of these services or for more information.

NPSC Wellness on Edsby

All elementary parents, caregivers and students are welcome to join the NPSC Wellness group on Edsby. Our Mental Health Team is sharing resources and activities that promote positive mental health to support children and youth during this time away from school. To request access the group search “NPSC Wellness (Elementary Mental Health)” on Edsby and send a message to one of the group moderators.

resources for secondary

The SJSH Wellness Hub on Edsby is open to all SJSH students to access well-being information to support student mental health during this pandemic. This group contains a calendar of events with resources and daily activities and supports, including Wellness Hub group drop-ins to keep students feeling connected to each other.

The Mental Health Edsby page for SJSH students also has links to online Drop-In Wellness Check Ins (Individual/Private) for SJSH students looking to speak with School Social Workers. Appointment availability will be updated weekly and posted to the Edsby Wellness Hub group.

For details about any of the services listed above contact tessierp@npsc.ca

Talking to Children and Youth About COVID-19

In one way or another, we have all been affected by the news of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day seems to bring something that changes the landscape.

As caring adults in students’ lives, we can help young people by being a steady calming influence, providing developmentally-appropriate and factual information about our local situation, and helping students to feel some level of control. Fostering supportive relationships with caring adults and encouraging children to talk about their feelings can greatly benefit a child who may be feeling distress.

General Principals:

Remain calm
Consider the time, place and environment when beginning a discussion with a child
Build trust by discussing what children are already doing well
Stay neutral, non judgmental and avoid conversations that lead to blame or social stigma
Be honest and accurate when providing information
Listen and observe to understand what may be concerning or causing anxiety for your child
Encourage children to continue to share their feelings and concerns
Limit screen time and spend time together as a family
End discussions on a positive note, emphasizing resiliency and positive outcomes

Creating a calm environment for children is a crucial part of managing feelings of anxiety or uncertainty. Taking care of your own well-being and health is an essential part of taking care of the needs of children. Parents and caregivers should ensure they are eating well, exercising and staying connected to their communities to talk about any feelings that may be overwhelming or causing distress.

Additional Resources

Jack.org in partnership with School Mental Health Ontario: COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub
School Mental Health Ontario: How to Support Student Mental Health During the Covid-19 pandemic
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19 A Parent Resource
Workplace Safety and Prevention Services: Talking With Children About Public Health Emergencies (video)
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019 messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children
The Greater Good Science Centre: A Loving Space for Children’s Emotions
psychologyfoundation.org (resources in English and French)
Stressstrategies.ca

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