Promoting Mental Health at St. Clair Catholic District School Board
Promoting Mental Health at St. Clair Catholic District School Board
A Comprehensive School Health Approach Informed by Implementation Science and Social Emotional Learning
by: Christine Preece
date: June 17, 2025
School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) was established by the Ontario Ministry of Education as part of a province-wide commitment to promoting student mental health and well-being. Recognizing the need for a systematic and coordinated approach, the Ministry supported each school board in hiring a dedicated Mental Health Lead to guide local implementation. These Leads were tasked with advancing a set of ten organizational conditions essential for effective and sustainable mental health practices in schools. These conditions include leadership commitment, clear roles and responsibilities, collaboration with community partners, and the use of evidence-based programming. Through this structured model, SMH-ON has helped boards build capacity, ensure consistency, and create mentally healthy learning environments.