Do you have a concern that one or more of your students are struggling with a mental health issue?

Such a situation can be difficult for a teacher looking to strike a balance between helping a student and respecting a family’s privacy.

Tips

• Talk to your principal or other school board personnel about your concerns and seek out what resources are available through the school or school board.

• Speak to the parents/caregivers of the student about your concerns and recommend the parents pursue further professional advice and service – e.g., see the family doctor, make a referral to a community agency, etc.

• Teachers can make preliminary inquiries to mental health agencies to see what services might be available and how to make a referral but would not be in a position to actually request services or discuss the child’s personal information without proper consent.

Boundaries

If a teacher is sufficiently worried about a child’s wellbeing and believes the situation to be abusive or neglectful, the teacher has an obligation to contact the Children’s Aid Society.

Where to get help?

You can find the Children’s Mental Health Centre closest to you by clicking on the 'Find Help Now' tab located throughout www.speakingofkidsmentalhealth.ca

In Crisis?

Kids Help Phone (24 hrs) 1-800-668-6868 or visit http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=86 for a list of Ontario Crisis Centres.