Vol. 7, Issue 8, Part F (2021)

Like physical health, positive mental health promotes success in life. “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.” In schools, we prioritize three critical and inter-related components of mental health: social (How we relate to others), emotional (How we feel), and behavioural (How we act) supports to promote overall well-being.

Many children and students struggle with mental health challenges that impact their full access to and participation in learning, and these challenges are often misunderstood and can lead to behaviours that are inconsistent with school or program expectations.