
Explore Findings from the 2022 Student Voice Survey
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), on behalf of the Student Voice Survey Committee, is excited to share findings from the Student Voice Survey. Over 4,400 students participated in the May 2022 survey that will help inform HWDSB’s Mental Health Strategy and Student Senate priorities.
Students, staff, families, and community members can watch the video above to learn more about the release of results from the Student Voice Survey Committee members themselves. Background information has also been shared below, including links to accompanying resources and a contact email for further questions.
To explore the Student Voice Survey highlights, head further down the page and click the drop-down buttons to find data from the different survey categories. Once you have read though the highlights, an appreciation letter for students, penned by the Student Voice Survey Committee, can be read below.
Now that survey findings have been shared, next steps will include collaboration with students, staff, families, and community partners to develop and implement identity-affirming practices. Programs and resources will support positive mental health, early identification, and clear pathways to more intensive mental health services.
Background Information
Under the leadership of the 2021-22 Student Trustees and Student Senate, a survey was created to give HWDSB students a platform “to share their voice on the issues that matter to us.”
The Student Voice Survey was open from May 16 to 27, 2022 for students in grades 7 to 12. It will serve as the foundation for HWDSB’s Mental Health Strategy for the next three years and help determine the priorities of the Student Senate.
The survey had four sections: About You, Student Well-Being, Equity and Inclusive Spaces, and Communication. The purpose was to gather feedback on the mental health resources that students would like to see, how HWDSB can create equitable learning environments, and the best ways to communicate with students.
Student Voice Survey participation was voluntary, and all responses were anonymous. Although it was created by students, survey responses have been stored and analyzed by HWDSB’s Research and Analytics Department.
Themes in the Student Voice Survey deal with mental health, equity, and more. As a result, links to We Help resources are also being included as additional supports.
If students and families have questions about the Student Voice Survey, the Student Voice Survey Committee can be reached by email at [email protected].
Survey Highlights
Question 1: What aspects of school typically give you stress or negatively affect your mental health? Question 2: On a scale of 1-5, how familiar are you with the mental health resources available at your school? Question 3: Can you name some of the mental health supports that you’re familiar with? Question 4: Have you used the mental health supports available at your school? Question 5: If you answered yes to the previous question, how would you rate the quality of the mental health supports you received? Question 6: What would make you more inclined to use the supports offered at your school? Question 7: What resources would be helpful to you that don’t already exist? Question 9: In your opinion, what contributes to an inclusive environment? Question 10: How well do you feel your identity is represented in your school environment (e.g., people, curriculum, learning materials, etc.)? Question 11: What is the best way for you to learn about resources that are offered through HWDSB? (Select up to three) Question 12: How did you hear about this survey? PDF version: Student Appreciation Letter Dear HWDSB Students, It’s Deema, Aisha, and Gloria, and we’re so excited to connect with you all again to share some updates about the Student Voice Survey. In May of 2022, we worked alongside the Student Senate to create a survey that gave grade 7-12 students a platform to share their perspectives on three key topics: student well-being, inclusive spaces, and communication at HWDSB. The survey results would help guide the priorities and mental health strategy at HWDSB. The survey was a HUGE success, receiving 4,490 responses, with participation from all 13 secondary schools and 57 elementary schools. We can’t thank every single one of you enough for sharing your experiences, insight, ideas, perspectives and stories. It truly means the world. Through the survey data, we were able to identify several key themes: students are mostly unfamiliar with the mental health resources available to them, discussions around mental well-being needed to become more common, and there is still a stigma around accessing mental health support. These responses have sent us a clear message: we need to take action to ensure every HWDSB student is aware of the mental health resources available to them and work to remove barriers and gaps that exist. So, what have we been up to since then? Over the past few months, we have been working with HWDSB’s mental health team, system social workers, the research and analytics department, and the communications department to understand the data and determine our next steps. Our short-term goals include sharing this data back with you, the students. You’ll be able to find a breakdown of the survey results on the HWDSB website. We’ll continue to promote mental health resources and supports at a school and board level. After that, we’ll be connecting with different student groups (Student Senate, Student Voice Advisory Committees, CC:ROSE, etc.) to continue identifying the gaps that exist and build a long-term plan that is informed by your experiences and suggestions. In the long-term, the survey results and discussions will inform HWDSB’s three-year mental health strategy, the priorities of the Student Senate, and serve as a guideline for future student surveys and consultations. If you have any questions regarding the Student Voice Survey and what this means for the future of HWDSB students, please feel free to reach out to us at: Thank you all again so much, you have and continue to play such an important role in the future of HWDSB and our school communities. Sincerely, Deema Abdel Hafeez, Aisha Mahmoud Gloria Li
Student Well-Being
Equity and Inclusive Spaces
Communication
Student Appreciation Letter
Read a Message from the Student Voice Survey Committee
2021-22 HWDSB Student Trustee, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
2021-23 HWDSB Student Trustee, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
2022-23 HWDSB Student Trustee, Hamilton-Wentworth District School BoardResources
Updated on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.