Potential opportunity for students and/or parents/guardians.
At School Mental Health Ontario, we work alongside reference groups who amplify student and parent/caregiver voices in school mental health. These groups play an essential role in helping to ensure that the resources and supports we develop are responsive to young people and their families.
At this time, we are actively seeking students and parents/caregivers to join our reference groups, Thrive School Mental Health (ThriveSMH) and the Parent and Caregiver Collaboration Group (PCCG). We are requesting your support in sharing the information within your board communities.
Please see below for details on the group opportunities, as well as suggestions on how to share with students and parents/caregivers.
ThriveSMH is a group of passionate students who help to develop and review resources, share student perspectives and support or lead mental health promotion initiatives. Students must be in grades 7 to 10 and attending an English language, publicly funded school board in Ontario. For more information and to apply, students can visit bit.ly/ThriveSMH
PCCG is a group of parents/caregivers who help to inform the work of School Mental Health Ontario by contributing to parent/caregiver mental health literacy through co-development of resources. Parents and caregivers must have a child (grades JK-12) currently registered in a publicly funded school board in Ontario. For more information and to apply parents/caregivers can visit https://smho-smso.ca/pccg/
Applications for both groups close November 30. Virtual open house events will be offered for students and parents/caregivers to meet members and learn more about the groups.
Click 
here for promotional messages, posters and social media images you can share.
Participation in a provincial reference group related to student mental health can be a meaningful and enriching experience. Here are some ways you can share these opportunities with students and parents/caregivers who may have an interest in this opportunity:
- Share with staff who may have direct connections to students and parents/caregivers and ask them to share with their student and family networks (e.g., guidance teachers, chaplains, social workers, attendance counselors)
- Share the opportunities through multiple communication pathways - posters, online platforms, announcements, parent/caregiver newsletters and social media.
- Consider sharing with parent/caregiver committees – PICs, SEAC, identity specific parent/caregiver advisory groups and school councils.
- Consider sharing with student leadership groups to expand reach among peers (e.g., student senate, well-being clubs, student trustees and affinity groups).
- Share with local community partners, organizations and external agencies you collaborate with to support student mental health.
For questions related to ThriveSMH please contact Julie Martin, Student Outreach Consultant at [email protected]
For questions related to PCCG please contact Gillian Gray, Parent/Caregiver Engagement Team Lead at [email protected].