We Help Update – Spring 2023
With the first week of March being Social Work Week and Black Mental Health Week, we figured it was an ideal time to share our We Help Update for spring 2023!
HWDSB will be offering various webinars, workshops and treatment groups to students and caregivers over the coming weeks and months. Find a full listing of mental health-related opportunities on our flyer or webpage. In addition to groups and workshops, students and families can also explore links to a wide range of mental health and well-being resources.
Stay tuned for our next We Help Update in May 2023!
- Mental Health Activities for Elementary Students
- Mental Health Activities for Secondary Students
- Self- Care 101 for Students
- How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child
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 – Spring 2023
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students
- Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers
- Mental Health Resources by Topic
- Tip Sheet for Distressing Events
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 |
| Difficult Conversations (TAMI) | March 22 | 6:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/TAMI-March22 |
| Emotion Coaching Webinar | April 12 | 6:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/EC-Apr12 |
| Families Worrying Less Together Information Session | April 18 | 12 p.m. | hwdsb.info/FWLT-Apr18afternoon |
| Families Worrying Less Together Information Session | April 18 | 6 p.m. | hwdsb.info/FWLT-Apr18evening |
| Emotion Coaching Webinar | May 4 | 9:30 a.m. | hwdsb.info/EC-May4 |
| TAMI Presentation | May 10 | 6:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/TAMI-May10 |
| Emotion Coaching Webinar | June 6 | 6:30 p.m. | hwdsb.info/EC-June6 |
Emotion Coaching
Emotion Coaching is a communication strategy that can calm the brain in as little as 60 seconds and help improve relationships.
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:
April 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. – hwdsb.info/EC-Apr12
May 4 from 9:30-11 a.m. – hwdsb.info/EC-May4
June 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. – hwdsb.info/EC-June6
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 for Parents/Caregivers Spring 2023
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:
April 18 from 12-1 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Apr18afternoon
April 18 from 6-7 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Apr18evening
Canadian Mental Health Association: Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI) Presentations
The goal of a TAMI presentation is to reduce the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health and mental illness, while providing a safe forum for participants to discuss the importance of mental health.
March 22, 2023, 6:30pm-7:30 p.m. – hwdsb.info/TAMI-March22
May 10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. – hwdsb.info/TAMI-May10
Transcend Group for Caregivers
Transcend is a social and support group for caregivers of transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming and gender questioning children and youth. Group meetings are held once/month for two hours to provide an opportunity to share the ups, downs and questions about your child’s gender identity, gender fluidity and transition with a welcoming group of caregivers, with support from a facilitator with lived experience who works in the Hamilton trans community.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
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
The first week of March marks Social Work Week in Ontario, a chance for us to celebrate the essential contributions of social workers in HWDSB school communities and across the province.
Each day, social workers make valuable contributions to student well-being and achievement. HWDSB social workers help students by supporting mental well-being, leading therapeutic groups, addressing important social issues, and so much more.
More than 20,000 social workers assist Ontario clients, patients, individuals, families, and communities.
Click here to read more about social work at HWDSB.
Anti-Black racism continues to have negative effects on the mental health and physical well-being of Black Ontarians.
Systemic policies, programs, and practices in the mental health system, rooted in anti-Black racism, create barriers that impact Black youth. Specifically, Black youth’s ability to timely access safe and culturally affirming and responsive mental health services.
Black Mental Health Week (March 6-12) raises awareness of the specific mental health needs of Black youth and their communities. Learn more at blackmentalhealthweek.ca.
Supports and Resources
| Organization | Contact Information |
| Hamilton Urban Core – Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth | Phone: (905)-522-3233 Email: [email protected] |
| St. Joseph’s Healthcare Mental Health Services | Youth Wellness Centre – St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (stjoes.ca) |
| YouThrive | Email: [email protected] Phone: (905)-522-1155 ext. 31725 |
Updated on Tuesday, March 07, 2023.