Where can I get help?

You are not alone.

If you’re ever wondering if you might need help with your mental health, you can always speak to a teacher or another trusted adult like a parent, relative, principal, coach, faith leader, Elder, or your family doctor.

You can also call Kids Help Phone and speak to a trained counsellor to see if getting more help might be a good idea. Speak with a counsellor 24/7 by calling Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868.

Mental Health services are available to all students at SMCDSB regardless of, for example, race, colour, background, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.

How to start the conversation....

“I haven’t been feeling well lately and I think I need some help.”

“Things haven’t been going well for me. I need some help to turn things around.”

“I can’t seem to get past the feelings I’m having. I wanted to reach out before things got worse.”

“I don’t know if you can help me, but I’m hoping you can help me to find someone who can. I’m worried that I have a problem with my mental health.”

“I’m not good at asking for help, and I wish I didn’t have to, but I don’t think I can handle this alone. Can you help me?”

(School Mental Health Ontario)

Are you in Secondary?

You can...

Talk to you classroom teacher using one of the conversation starters above.
Go to your Guidance Department and talk with a Guidance Teacher using one of the conversation starters above. You can also reach out to the Chaplaincy Team Leader at your school. There are many types of mental health professionals within your high school that you can connect with (e.g., School Counsellors, First Nation, Métis, Inuit School Counsellors, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Nurses!)

Are you in Elementary?

You can...

Talk to a teacher or your Principal/Vice Principal using one of the conversation starters above.
There are school mental health staff there to help!

FAQ's

Does counselling at school cost money?

No! All counselling support offered in schools is free and accessible to all students (virtual and in-person)!

What types of things do people talk about in counselling?

Stress
Anxiety/worry
Social challenges and relationship difficulties
Mood challenges (e.g., feeling sad, overwhelmed, down, angry)

How does talking to someone help?

It can help you better understand your thoughts and feelings and make sense of them.
A Mental Health professional can help you build skills for managing stress and working through conflicts.
It can help you find ways to solve problems.

Who can access counselling at SMCDSB?

Mental Health services are available to all students at SMCDSB regardless of, for example, race, colour, background, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.

We Matter

We Matter is a place to help Indigenous youth get through hard times, whether you need support yourself or want to support someone you know.

School Mental Health Ontario

Mental Health resources and information for students.

Anxiety Canada

Information, tools, and the MindShift App to help support your mental health.

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone offers 24/7 professional counselling and information to young people. There are also many resources and tools on their website to help you.

Kids Help Phone- Support for Black YouthBlack youth across Canada can access free wellness support 24/7 by texting RISE to 686868.

Youth Call YouthCALL is a free live-answer helpline assisting young people across Simcoe County who need help planning their paths forward.

Kids Help Phone- Support for Indigenous Youth

Indigenous people can connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder, when available, by messaging FIRST NATIONS, INUIT or METIS to 686868 for young people and 741741 for adults.