Student Services
School Mental Health
Mental Health Promotion is about creating environments that promote and sustain positive mental health for everyone. Activities and interventions are designed to enhance protective factors and minimize risk factors (individual, family related, environmental and economic in nature). Schools are an ideal setting in which to promote mental health for children and youth, providing an opportunity to reach large groups of children during their formative years of cognitive, emotional and behavioural development (Healthy Child Manitoba, 2012).
This page contains links to resources, supports, and services in the area of school mental health.
Manitoba Resources
Mental Health Promotion in Schools
Healthy Schools Manitoba is rooted in comprehensive school health which is an internationally recognized framework for supporting improvements in students’ educational outcomes, while addressing school health in a planned, integrated and holistic way.
In consultation with educational and school health stakeholders from across Canada, including Manitoba, the Joint Consortium for School Health (JCSH) published, Schools as a Setting for Promoting Positive Mental Health: Better Practices and Perspectives (
1.47 MB). This is the basis of the Positive Mental Health (PMH) Indicator Framework and Toolkit.
The JCSH PMH Toolkit has been designed to support schools in promoting Positive Mental Health perspectives and practices. The Toolkit is a flexible tool that can be implemented at a school’s own pace, in whole or in part, allowing them to focus on the sections that best fit their needs and goals.
The comprehensive school health framework involves a whole school approach that includes four inter-related pillars that provide the foundation for this model. They include the: Social and Physical Environment, Teaching and Learning, Healthy School Policy, and Partnerships and Services.
Mental Health Promotion in Schools ( 1.94 MB)
The toolkit can be found at: Manitoba Healthy Schools Website and Mental Health Toolkit
A general overview of the mental health system in Manitoba may be found at the Mental Health and Spiritual Health Care Branch website. It contains information about Mental Health and Mental Illness, links to mental health services available in Manitoba, documents such as, “Rising to the Challenge: A strategic plan for the mental health and well-being of Manitobans,” “Health and the Human Spirit: Shaping the Direction of Spiritual Health Care in Manitoba,” and “Reclaiming Hope: Manitoba’s Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. MHCC offers information, training and resources on topics of mental health and substance abuse, suicide prevention, engagement with Canadians and population based initiatives.
The Manitoba Curriculum addresses MH at early, middle and senior years levels throughout a variety of subject areas such as English Language Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education/Health Education, and Psychology. The Manitoba Sourcebook for Guidance Education pulls together MH related compulsory curriculum areas. Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning documents such as, "Planning for Behaviour" and "Supporting Positive Behaviour in Manitoba Classrooms" address MH promotion / MI prevention across the Universal (supports and strategies that benefit all students), Targeted, and Intensive support levels.
Contact
General Enquiries
Inclusion Support Branch
Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning
Telephone: 204-945-7912
Toll Free in Manitoba: 1-800-282-8069, ext. 7912
Email: isbinfo@gov.mb.ca
