2 Articles – Services for Children: Mental Health Learning in School, Free Summer Transportation (sign up)
ONTARIO ADDS MORE MENTAL HEALTH LEARNING TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM
BURLINGTON MPP WHOSE TEEN SON DIED BY SUICIDE A FEW YEARS AGO HAS PUSHED FOR THIS TYPE OF INITIATIVE
Courtesy of Barrie 360 and Canadian PressPublished: May 1st, 2023 1:33pm
By Allison Jones
Ontario is adding new curriculum expectations on mental-health literacy for Grade 10 students and giving teachers more resources for students in Grades 7 and 8.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the government will also spend $26 million over the next two years to provide mental-health resources to students over the summer, so their support isn’t interrupted by the school break.
“We know students, today more than ever, are facing real challenges when it comes to mental health,” Lecce said at a news conference.
“Nearly half of students in Grades 7 to 12 said that they wanted to reach out to someone about a mental-health problem during their first year of the pandemic, but they simply didn’t know who to turn to. We know we must, and we can, ensure that this is no longer the case.”
Lecce made the announcements Monday alongside Natalie Pierre, who represents the riding of Burlington for the Progressive Conservatives and who has been pushing for more mental-health literacy in schools since her 17-year-old son died by suicide almost six years ago.
Pierre said this approach is proactive, practical and evidence-based, reaching students at a time when mental-health issues often emerge, and she hopes the new steps help prevent tragedies like the one her family experienced.
“Mike seemed just like any other student – the day before he died, he took a university campus tour, he worked a few hours at his part-time job and he got together with friends,” she said, wiping tears away.
“The night before, he went to a school dance. Anyone seeing him would have observed a normal, healthy teenager, but we know now that was not the case. In the months and years that followed, I was shocked at just how many people: colleagues, family members, friends, neighbours, lawyers, teachers contacted me and came forward to share their own personal experience with mental-health struggles and how they suffered in silence. I decided we needed to do something about that.”
Ontario’s health and physical education curriculum, updated in 2019, already includes learning on mental-health literacy in every grade, but Monday’s announcement adds curriculum expectations for the Grade 10 career studies course, helping students to recognize signs of being overwhelmed or struggling, as well as where to find help.
As well, teachers of the Grade 7 and 8 health and physical education curriculum will get new lesson plans including student activities, videos, interactive programming and information designed to help students learn how to manage stress and recognize signs and symptoms of a mental-health concern.
2 Articles – Services for Children: Mental Wellness, Free Rides
BARRIE YOUTH HAVE A FREE RIDE TO ACCESS TRANSIT AND RECREATION THIS SUMMER
KIDS AGES 12 TO 16 CAN SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE
Courtesy of Barrie 360 and City of Barrie News Release; Published: May 1st, 2023
News release from the City of Barrie
Applications open today for the City’s Licence 2 Ride program, which offers Barrie youth aged twelve to sixteen free rides on Barrie Transit and access to free recreational opportunities at the City’s recreation/community centres, from July 1 to September 4, 2023.
“Licence 2 Ride is designed to support local youth by providing access to and education about City services like transit and recreation, and by encouraging them in their journey to becoming active and involved members of the community,” says Brent Forsyth, Director of Transit and Parking Strategy.
Nearly 1,000 youth participated in the program in 2022. Voluntary “Rider’s Ed” orientation sessions will be offered to participants at the start of the program to educate them on how to use Barrie Transit, and the City’s fitness centres.
“The goal of the program is to build future transit riders through education and familiarity of the system, along with motivating a healthy lifestyle by providing access to recreation facilities and programming,” says Dan Bell, Director of Recreation & Culture Services.
Youth who have a licence can enjoy free activities throughout the summer, some of which include:
- Select drop-in recreation programs, including open gym, public skating and swimming
- Access to the fitness centres at Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield and Peggy Hill Team Community Centres (for those thirteen years and older)
- Free rides on all Barrie Transit routes
Interested youth can submit a completed application form (which includes a parent/guardian signature), along with one piece of identification in-person at Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield or Peggy Hill Team Community Centres.
Application forms and more information on the program are available at barrie.ca/Licence2Ride.
To learn more about Barrie’s transit services, visit barrie.ca/transit. To learn more about recreation opportunities in the city, visit barrie.ca/recreation.
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