We Help Update – Fall 2022
On Monday, October 10, the world came together to recognize World Mental Health Day. The designated theme for 2022 was Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority. At HWDSB, we continue to put a spotlight on well-being through our We Help Update newsletters.
See our latest edition for various webinars, workshops, and treatment groups available to students and caregivers. We have also included a resource from McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) below that lists additional community offerings.
Stay tuned for our next We Help Update in January 2023!
In case of crisis, call 911 or visit your local hospital emergency room. For urgent support, contact Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868; www.kidshelpphone.ca; text CONNECT) or COAST Hamilton (905-972-8338; www.coasthamilton.ca).
- We Help Update Flyer – Fall 2022
- MCH’s Growing Together: A Community Education Guide for Parents, Youth and Children
- Reimagining Wellness 2.0 Video
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers
- Mental Health Resources by Topic
Transcend Youth Group
Transcend is a social and support group for transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming and gender questioning children and youth from HWDSB schools. Group meetings are held once per month for two hours and are facilitated by peer leaders with lived experience. Transcend meetings are a welcoming environment which allows youth to develop social connections with others who share some aspect of their identity, so that they can help and support and learn from each other and from the facilitators.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
AFFIRM
AFFIRM Is an eight-session Cognitive-Based Therapy informed treatment group specifically for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth to develop coping skills for anxiety and stress related to experiences of discrimination as a result of their sexual and gender identities. The goals of AFFIRM are to decrease unhelpful thoughts, feel better about yourself and lives, and to make healthy choices for sexual and mental health.
Register online at projectyouthaffirm.org/ or contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
TRAILS Anxiety and Depression
TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) groups are designed to help children and youth (grades 4 to 6, 7 to 8, and 9 to 12) who struggle with moderate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and/or depression by teaching evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness skills.
For more information, please contact the Principal/Vice-Principal or Social Worker at your school or Social Work Services (905) 527-5092 ext. 2806.
Teen Activation Group (TAG)
TAG is a treatment group for youth (grades 9 to 12) struggling with depression and anxiety who are not ready to access other treatment options. The group is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Behaviour Activation Therapy. The goal of the group is to help children and youth to reduce their depressive and anxious symptoms and increase their overall activity level, so they can access other treatment options or so they no longer require treatment.
For more information, please contact the Principal/Vice-Principal or Social Worker at your school or Social Work Services (905) 527-5092 ext. 2806.
More Resources for Students
Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students
Use HWDSB’s Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students list to find:
- Individual Supports
- Group Supports
- Provincial Resources
- Crisis Services
- Community Supports
Use the associated links to register, and find detailed descriptions for sessions in the menus below.
| Session Title | Date | Time | Link to Register/Attend |
| Families Worrying Less Together | October 18 | 1 p.m. | hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct1pm |
| Families Worrying Less Together | October 18 | 6 p.m. | hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct6pm |
| ADHD (Lunch & Learn) | October 19 | 12 p.m. | hwdsb.info/Oct19ADHD |
| Anxiety (Lunch & Learn) | October 26 | 12 p.m. | hwdsb.info/Oct26Anxiety |
| Mental Health & Mental Illness (TAMI) | October 26 | 3:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/TAMI-Oct26 |
| Depression and Low Mood (Lunch & Learn) | November 2 | 12 p.m. | hwdsb.info/Nov2Depression |
| Difficult Conversations (TAMI) | November 22 | 6 p.m. | hwdsb.info/TAMI-Nov22 |
| Emotion Coaching Webinar | November 24 | 6:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/EC-Nov24 |
| Emotion Coaching Webinar | December 13 | 3:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/EC-Dec13 |
| How to Support Each Other (TAMI) | December 20 | 12 p.m. | hwdsb.info/TAMI-Dec20 |
Emotion Coaching
As we continue to face the realities of living through a pandemic and moving into a new school year, we know that this can be a challenging time for parents and caregivers supporting children and youth through new routines and uncertainties.
In response, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, and Hamilton Family Health Team invite parents and caregivers to explore Emotion Coaching in a 90-minute webinar, and if interested, a six-week parent/caregiver group for further learning. Click the following links to register for one of the 90-minute webinars:
- November 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. – hwdsb.info/EC-Nov24
- December 13 from 3:30-5 p.m. – hwdsb.info/EC-Dec13
To register for the six-week parent/caregiver group, please call the Hamilton Family Health Team, Mental Health Groups line at 905-667-4852. We encourage caregivers to participate in a webinar before joining the caregiver group, however, it is not required.
What is Emotion Coaching?
Emotion Coaching is a communication strategy that can calm the brain in as little as 60 seconds, and help improve relationships. Emotion Coaching has two steps:
- Validation: Letting someone know we understand why they feel, think or act a certain way.
- Support: Then, we provide emotional and practical support using strategies like reassurance, limit-setting, redirecting, collaborative problem-solving, teaching skills, etc.
Learning in Webinars
- Introduction to Emotion Coaching and how it can improve relationships with your child/youth
- Understanding the role of emotions
- Linking Emotion Coaching to neuroscience
- Reviewing Emotion Coaching approaches
PDF Flyer: Emotion Coaching Flyer – Fall 2022
Parent/Caregiver Cheat Sheet: Emotion Coaching Cheat Sheet for Parents and Caregivers
Video: Learn more about Emotion Coaching at HWDSB
Families Worrying Less Together
If you are the parent/primary caregiver of a student in grades JK to 8 who is excessively shy or has intense worries and fears, come learn about the Families Worrying Less Together program. This program will give you practical strategies to help your child learn to cope differently. Please note: This program is for parents and primary caregivers, children do not attend. Please register using the following links:
October 18 from 1-2 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct1pm
October 18 from 6-7 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct6pm
Mental Health and Well-Being Lunch & Learn Series
Join HWDSB staff at a Lunch & Learn session for information, tips, and resources on the following topics.
ADHD – Learn about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and how to help at home and in the classroom
October 19 from 12-1 p.m. – hwdsb.info/Oct19ADHD
Anxiety – This session will focus on how to identify anxiety, when to be concerned, and how to help.
October 26 from 12-1 p.m. – hwdsb.info/Oct26Anxiety
Depression and Low Mood – The session will help you to identify depression, when to be concerned, and how to help.
November 2 from 12-1 p.m. – hwdsb.info/Nov2Depression
Canadian Mental Health Association: Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) Presentations
Understanding the Difference between Mental Health & Mental Illness & When to Seek Help
October 26 from 3:30-5 p.m. – hwdsb.info/TAMI-Oct26
How to Have Difficult Conversations with your Family, Children & Friends
November 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. – hwdsb.info/TAMI-Nov22
How to Support Each Other – You & Your Partner’s Mental Health
December 20 from 12-1 p.m. – hwdsb.info/TAMI-Dec20
City of Hamilton Parenting Groups
Flyer: Parenting Group Poster Sept-Dec 2022
Find descriptions of Hamilton’s parenting groups below, or visit the City of Hamilton website for more information.
Parenting with LOVE
Parenting with LOVE is a group for parents of children six years and under. Parents share ideas and discuss concerns about parenting.
The group is open to parents who are:
- involved with either the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton or the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
- recommended to take a parenting course
Program consists of:
- Two hour sessions for eight weeks
- Bus tickets to get to the group and return home
- Certificate of participation at the end of the program
Session & Registration Information
Parenting with LOVE groups run for eight weeks and each session is two hours long. Sessions are free, but you must register to attend. Various dates, times and locations available. Please call Health Connections at 905-546-3550 for more information and to register.
Group Triple P
For parents of children two to six years age. Parents share ideas and discuss concerns about parenting.
Topics include:
- How to build a positive relationship with your child
- Ways to help your child behave well
- Responding to challenging behaviour
Program consists of:
- Six weeks of two-hour group sessions and three weeks of 20 minute phone calls
- Bus tickets to get to the group and return home
- Certificate of participation at the end of the program
Session & Registration Information
Group Triple P includes six two-hour group sessions and three 20-minute phone calls over nine weeks. Sessions are free, but you must register to attend. Please call Health Connections at 905-546-3550 for more information and to register.
More Resources for Parents
Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Use HWDSB’s Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents list to find:
- Individual Supports
- Workshops & Groups
- Resources by Topic
- Provincial Resources
- Crisis Services
- Community Supports
HWDSB Classrooms Start the School Year with Wellness
This week, Reimagining Wellness 2.0 lessons are coming to a close in elementary classrooms. To celebrate a successful second year of the initiative, we are sharing a video that brings the activities to life.
Last month, HWDSB staff captured some lessons in action and asked students and educators what Reimagining Wellness means to them. Watch the video below to see how these activities based on Community & Team Building, Physical Activation, and Social Emotional Skill Development are turning classrooms into communities.
Updated on Thursday, October 13, 2022.