This page contains links that may be helpful to students/parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about mental health and wellness, as well as how to access support and services. The resources primarily provide information on specific topics in mental health and well-being with some providing further links to community resources.

Resources in Waterloo Region

Community Resources in Waterloo Region

The organizations and services listed in this guide provide support and assistance to families of children and youth coping with mental health issues.

These are two brochures available that are helpful for families in need to access community supports:

The Family Outreach brochure contains information on the Family Outreach Program which addresses child poverty. House of Friendship’s Family Outreach Program is a neighbourhood based program funded by the Region of Waterloo that works with families with children aged 17 and under to prevent and reduce the effects of poverty.

The Counselling Works! brochure contains information on the Counselling Collaborative Program, a free counselling service for those who are receiving support through Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program.

Region of Waterloo Public Health also has resources and supports available.

Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC)

WRSPC has resources and information on supports available in Waterloo Region.

Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) Resource Guide

PCMH helps parents, caregivers, and members of the community to assist children with mental health concerns. It provides information on mental illness, local support services and resources available for children and their families.

How To Approach Your Child’s Mental Health

Have THAT talk by Ottawa Public Health

Ottawa Public Health’s “have THAT talk” mental health video campaign was created to give parents more information about mental health. The videos aim to give parents the knowledge and resources they need to talk about mental health with their child or teen. Mental health problems affect 1 in 5 Canadians. Also, 75% of all of these problems start before the age of 24 years. Parents are encouraged to watch these videos to learn how they can have that talk about mental health with their child or teen. By talking about mental health openly, you can help your child become a healthy and resilient adult.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

CAMH provides information about parenting and mental health issues.

Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know provides information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, signs of a problem, how to help your child, and where to get more information and support.

Parenting for Life by the Psychology Foundation of Canada

The Parenting for Life series is an award-winning public education program designed to promote positive parenting skills and the well-being of families. Based on major themes of parenting, there are seven booklets (in English and French) available for parents covering topics from self-esteem to how to talk to teenagers.

Advanced Caregiving for Prevention Parenting & Mental Health by Mental Health Foundations

Created by Mental Health Foundations, this parenting video series is now available to support caregivers interested in “prevention parenting” or who are struggling with the behavioural or emotional needs of their child/loved one.

Shanker Self-Regulation Parent Resources by The Mehrit Centre

Dr. Stuart Shanker’s Mehrit Centre is a social enterprise that aims to work towards a vision of calm, alert and flourishing children, youth and adults by grounding learning and living in mindful self-regulation. These parent resources offer a variety of tools and platforms for parents to learn more about the strategy and connect with other parents who share the same goals.

Nine Tips for Talking to Kids about Trauma by the Greater Good Science Center

Fortunately, parenting and education experts have produced a wealth of resources for having difficult conversations with kids about tragedies such as terrorist attacks. Contained are nine tips distilled from these many resources.

Parent Engagement is Important to Student Success by the Council of Ontario Directors of Education

Parent Engagement is Important to Student Success offers resources that will help families as they guide their children in learning skills that are essential for success at school and throughout life. CODE has produced five booklets with input from parents across Ontario. Three of these booklets are Tool Kits, and are intended for use by parents, guardians, and school staff and leaders. Two of these booklets are Guidebooks and can be used as a resource to support parent engagement and reinforce the information in the Tool Kits.

Have the conversation by Beyond Blue

If you’re worried about someone and avoiding starting a conversation with them about your concerns, simply letting them know you care can make a big difference. With the advice of people who are familiar with depression and anxiety Beyond Blue has developed information that can help people have a conversation that might be difficult.

Anxiety and Stress

The Caregivers’ Guide to Accessing Support for Students with Anxiety by the WRDSB

The Caregivers’ Guide to Accessing Support for Students with Anxiety was created by the WRDSB to help parents and guardians recognize signs their child may be struggling with anxiety, while also providing resources to help them support their child. The guide also outlines tiers of support available to students in school, depending on their level of need.

Calm in the Storm: Coping with the Stress of Life by the Klinic Community Health Centre

This handbook and its corresponding website contain important information on identifying signs and symptoms of stress, as well as simple, user-friendly methods that can be used by everyone to manage their stress and improve their lives.

Kids Have Stress Too Toolbox by the Psychology Foundation of Canada

Kids Have Stress Too Toolbox is a program created by the Psychology Foundation of Canada to help parents quickly and easily identify and approach mental health concerns with their children. The easy to read guides are available in a variety of languages.

Suicide and Self-Harm

Together to Live by the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health

Together to Live is an online toolkit for addressing youth suicide in your community. The Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health created this website as a tool for service providers working with children and youth to help them bring their community together to prevent youth suicide.

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention

CASP provides information and resources to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behaviour.

safeTALK by LivingWorks Education

safeTALK is a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources.

Teen suicide: What parents need to know by The Mayo Clinic

Is your teen at risk of suicide? While no teen is immune, there are factors that can make some adolescents more vulnerable than others. This guide created by the Mayo Clinic will help you to understand how to tell if your teen might be suicidal and where to turn for help and treatment.

Self-Injury: A Guide For Parents & Families by Self-Injury Outreach and Support

Self-Injury Outreach and Support is a collaborative effort between the University of Guelph and McGill University. Self-Injury: A Guide For Parents & Families provides information and resources about self-injury to parents and caregivers of those who self-injure, those who have recovered, and those who want to help.

Building Resiliency

Raising Resilient Children and Youth by CAMH

Get more information on child/youth resilience. Everyone needs skills and supportive people in their lives to help cushion them from problems they may encounter. Introducing even a few positive elements into their lives can shift the balance and help many children and youth flourish.

Resiliency: at Home, School and Work by the CMHA

This short guide, created by the Canadian Mental Health Association, aims to assist parents with building resiliency in their children. Resiliency in children helps them solve problems, cope with challenges and bounce back from disappointments. We can help our children develop attributes or “assets” that enable them to be resilient and will help them throughout their lives.

Teens Can be Resilient…in High School!: A Parent’s Guide by Durham Region Health Department

Produced by the Durham Region Health Department, Teens Can be Resilient…in High School!: A Parent’s Guide was created as a mental health resource for parents of teens transitioning to high school. Entering high school can be a challenging time for both teens and parents. The teenage years are a time when many physical, emotional and social changes are occurring. Teens often experience a range of emotions, as do parents.

Five Science-Backed Strategies to Build Resilience by the Greater Good Science Center

Even for the relatively self-aware and emotionally adept, struggles can take us by surprise. But learning healthy ways to move through adversity—a collection of skills that researchers call resilience—can help us cope better and recover more quickly, or at least start heading in that direction. The Greater Good Science Center has collected 12 of those resilience practices (squeezed into five categories), which can help you confront emotional pain more skillfully.

Mindyourmind by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

mindyourmind is an award-winning, non-profit mental health program that engages youth, emerging adults and the professionals who serve them to co-develop reliable and relevant resources. These resources are designed to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and increase access and use of community support, both professional and peer-based. Through the use of active engagement, best practice and technology, mindyourmind inspires youth to reach out, get help and give help.

Emotionally preparing your kids for College or University by the Child Mind Institute

Adolescents making the transition from high school to college need not only academic skills to ace the classwork, and time-management skills to stay afloat, but emotional problem-solving skills to handle the challenges. As parents, we can’t shadow them in the freshman dorm, but we can help supply them, before they leave home, with a toolbox of skills and habits to use when they become stressed or overwhelmed. Learn how.

Positive Psychology by Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson

This free course discusses research findings in the field of positive psychology, conducted by Barbara Fredrickson and her colleagues. It also features practical applications of this science that you can put to use immediately to help you live a full and meaningful life. Only available in English at this time, with subtitles. Requires 2-4 hours/week for readings and watching videos.