Teaching (old version)
Systems
The second job-embedded step along a continuum of professional learning for new teachers, building on and complementing initial teacher education programs. It provides professional support to help new teachers develop the requiste skills and knowledge to be effective teachers in Ontario.
An effective anti-racism programs from school districts should feature an acknowledgement, community partnership and leadership, accountability, disaggreagated race-based data collection, transparent monitoring and reporting and policy development and implementation.
The four-day school week has received mixed reviews in the literature (“A shortened workweek is not a ‘magic pill’ to solve the problem. If we don’t improve working conditions and compensate educators properly, the length of the workweek will not matter”).
Principals could apply for a 10 week paid leave to undertake professional learning, reflection and rejuvenation. The purpose is to improve overall retention rates of experienced, effective principals and enhance their enthusiasm for school leadership.
Teachers Of Tomorrow Project (AB) (BC)
This iniative proposes an upstream approach to addressing student well-being though the issue of teacher preparedness. The results of this work has been a prototype for a system of wellness education, modelled on the CSH framework and involving the development of key partnerships, addressing the social and physical environments of the faculty, implementing healthy school policies and teacher and learning strategies. Knowledge exchange can be found at cshhub.com.
Establish a pan-Canadian network focusing on mental health and wellbeing in K-12 education (Recommended Actions and Next Steps pp. 18- 27).
Workplace health programs refer to a coordinated and comprehensive set of strategies which include programs, policies, benefits, environmental supports, and links to the surrounding community designed to meet the health and safety needs of all employees.
Guarding Minds is a free online set of resources designed to assess and address psychological health and safety in your workplace. It is intended to be administered by one of your own employees.
Debrief Process/Policy When Teachers Experience A Stressful/Traumatic Event.
Advocacy For Reasonable Workloads.
EAP - Expand Benefits for Counselling.
“Teachers Internalize This Sense Of Vocation, Which I Think Is A Really Dangerous Idea”
Interview Participant
Organization
The Workplace Wellness Playbook is intended to support and inform school authority leaders in collaborative conversations, resulting in the development of a school authority workplace wellness plan.
Mental Health Awareness Training (CA) (US) (FR) ($)
This 3 hour mental health awareness training is one of the first scientifically evaluated workplace mental health training programs to result in changes in leaders’ behaviours, increased employee resource-use, and lower disability claim duration over time.
This document provides an overview of key information and resources helpful to administrators in fostering mentally healthy school environments for students and staff.
Rethink administrative work that does not have student learning at its core. Workload volume is the highest source of stress, so action to reduce and change this is urgently needed.
This course with modules delivered by Canadian school district leaders and subject matter experts, this course prepares education leaders to undertake a systemic approach aimed at sustainably improving employee wellbeing which contributes to a more positive school environment for students.
It Takes A Village (AB)
The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan created a wellness hub to provide personal and workplace wellness information. Topics include healthy workplaces, relationships, self-care, social connections, self-assessment and more.
A free guide to equip organizations with meaningful strategies and real-life examples of how to support employee mental health.
Alberta Health Services created evidence-based actionable strategies to help workplaces increase support for individual mental health in the workplace.
Stress Assess (ON)
An online survey tool designed for workers and managers who are interested in assessing psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Accommodation strategies for employees with mental health issues who are at work or returning to work.
Team Teaching (Especially For Teachers Returning To Work From Leave)
Weekly/Monthly Check In’s With Staff Teams
“I Feel That We Have Moved From Being Professional To Being People In The Service Industry”
Interview Participant
Work Unit
This workshop with concurrent workshops and in-depth training sessions delivered by top-tier staff wellbeing experts and tailored to every K-12 employee group, this Summit will provide an exclusive professional learning experience for district teams of staff wellbeing champions seeking concrete ways to embed and sustain a happier and healthier workplace culture.
Coaching and mentoring are not limited to early career stages but also instrumental for experienced teachers and school leaders.
Well Teacher Group (BC) ($)
This is a six week program with a holistic approach to wellness to help teachers make lifestyle changes that will positively affect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves a 12 hour group workshop with six, two hour long sessions led by qualified occupational therapists or trained consultants in mental health.
Quiet space for teachers to relax featuring amenities like massage and lounge chairs, treadmills, hammocks, and yoga equipment.
Strategies to help build connection to each other, ourselves and what is truly important in our live.
Strategies to address the psychological safety of healthcare workers using peer to peer support programs.
Evidence based workplace mental health training program customized for healthcare workers.
“If A Teacher Isn’t Struggling With Their Mental Health I Think That Would Be An Anomoly, I Think The Majority Are.”
Interview Participant
Individual
Mindfulness Everyday (BC) (ON) (Virtual)
SmartEDUCATION (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques) is an evidence-based, trauma sensitive and EDI aware program designed to address the needs to educators. The 20 hour program is delivered in a workshop setting, consists of 8 x two hour sessions, a 4 hour silent retreat and includes home practice.
Starling Minds (BC) (NWT) (ON) (QC) ($)
Starling Minds is a digital mental health platform that reduces absence and disability costs by delivering immediate, unlimited, and personalized digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The Ontario Insurance Plan (OTIP) selected Starling Minds to deliver personalized mental health programs for more than 160,000 Ontario-based educators.
The Well Teacher ($)
The Well Teacher book provides teachers in the K-12 system with tips, tools, and information on how to improve personal well-being and address teacher wellness barriers. (This resource was given by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation to teachers who attended the 2022 OTF/Affiliate Symposium on mental health).
The Teacher App: A more Resilient Canada (BC) (ON) (QC) (NYC)
This app aims to help teachers take care of themselves and feel stronger when it comes to navigating mental health. This can be achieved through community and providing services to connect, heal, and learn.
The Regulated Classroom is a new somatosensory and Polyvagal-informed approach to cultivating conditions for felt safety in the classroom. It is a collection of practices and tools for educators to embed into daily routines and activities in order to promote a more consistently regulated and stable environment for learning.
Cultivating Awareness And Resilience (NYC) (Virtual) ($)
CARE is a unique professional development program that helps teacher handle their stress and rediscover the joys of teaching. They offer a four day retreat at the Garrison Institute (NYC), a series of weekend sessions or a three day model with follow-up.
This website contains strategies for things such as balancing your personal and professional life, ensuring your personal wellness, and developing effective time management strategies.
The podcast features Positive Teacher Well-Being with Dana Fulwiler. The Podclass is an educational podcast developed by Ever Active Schools. The first series is a collaboration with the Werkland School of Education that looks at maximizing the health and well-being of students and teachers.
Changeworks Interactive (ON) ($) (Virtual)
Kevin Waldbillig is a Registered Psychotherapist and former educator who understands the challenges teachers face. He provides personal counselling and psychotherapy for those seeking treatment for stress management, depression, anxiety grief and much more. Continuous professional development and lifelong learning are foundational elements of his journey.
Heartcare Planning emerged as a key finding from the Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Emotional Labour in Educational Workers research study. Create a HEARTcare plan to figure out how you respond to occupational stress and distress, ways to identify crisis and trauma work, and investigate available interventions to restore or maintain your emotional and mental health.
The SGBA harrassment and bullying toolkit provides common definitions and language, describes the impact of bullying and harassment on mental health and outlines promising practices to address bullying and harassment.
SGBA Workplace Discrimination Bias Toolkit provides common definitions and language along with promising practices to help address workplace discrimination.
This campaign suggest when you display your blue elephant, you show that you care about the wellness of others and demonstrate that this is a safe place to talk about mental illness, without fear of being viewed differently.
Sign up to access free evidence based tools, apps and programs on mental health.
Bounceback (ON)
Free guided self-help life-skills program that participants work with to develop coping techniques so they can overcome challenges.
Burnout Toolkit includes strategies to prevent and combat burnout in the workplace.
The Working Mind ($)
Brought to you by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, The Working Mind is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace.
Mind Beacon (FR) ($)
MindBeacon is changing mental health care by making support available to every Canadian. Services include guided CBT programs, video or phone sessions with a therapist and in-person therapy appointments.