Mental Health Week 2024 took place from May 6-12, 2024. This year’s theme, “A Call to be Kind”, was centered on the healing power of compassion. It reminds us to show compassion for ourselves and others, spread kindness in our schools and communities, and explore how compassion connects us all.
Taking care of ourselves and others takes time, focus, and intentionality. It is important to give ourselves space to recognize how we are and what we need. Most importantly, it takes a community commitment to notice, reach out, and care for one another by centering our attention on our shared humanity.
Each person is unique, and so are each person’s mental health needs. How you recognize this week depends on each individual person: you might like the idea of a “daily challenge” to help you dedicate time each day to your mental health and well-being. Or, you might prefer browsing articles, resources, and tips on topics you’d like to focus on.
The OCDSB’s Mental Health Team has compiled activities and links to help you to focus on whichever approach or topic fits best with you and your story. We hope these resources provide you with inspiration to focus together on how we can find joy, laughter, and learning together as we highlight the importance of mental health for everyone.
Elementary Families: Take time for a mindful family walk. Intentionally notice your surroundings, paying attention to your senses – what do you see, hear, smell, and feel?. This practice can help to boost your mental and physical well-being.
Secondary Students: Spend time outside and take time to intentionally notice your surroundings. Reflect on your senses – what do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel? Being in nature and taking in these moments are important for our body and mind.
Elementary Families: Take time to tune in to one another by committing to a screen free meal. This allows everyone to be present in the moment and connect with one another about their day. Intentionally listen, without judgment or expectations. Not sure what to talk about? Check out these conversation starters to help.
Secondary Students: Try something new or make time for something you have always wanted to do more of. Give yourself permission to plan time in your day that is focused on you.
Elementary Families: Try out a new wellness practice such as sharing things you are grateful for as a family, write messages to one another about what you each bring to the family or simply enjoy trying out a new recipe together. Engage in whatever practice makes sense for your family to stay well.
Secondary Students: Try out a sleep routine that will help you get the hours you need to recharge your battery. Sleep helps everyone feel a bit brighter.
Elementary Families: Decide as a family how you can give back to the community. Ideas may include cleaning up garbage in your neighbourhood or writing cards to seniors living in a local retirement community. Choosing to actively demonstrate kindness towards others is important for them and you!
Secondary Students: Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and check in. Spend uninterrupted time just with them. Relationships are an important part of our wellness.
Elementary Families: End the week with some family fun, whether it is a board game night, a family dance party or simply time to curl up with a movie together. Engaging in playful family fun is a great week to wrap up the week together.
Secondary Students: Create a “happy” music playlist or watch a comedy movie with friends. Finding time for laughter is essential to our wellness.
Additional Resources
There are many other resources available to help you look after your mental health, support your family, and talk about mental health with your children, including:
- Community resources
- Easy and Fun Mental Health Activities (SMHO)
- Articles and Tips for Parents/Caregivers
- Mental Health Tips for Students (Youth Action Committee)
- Supports Available in OCDSB Schools
At the OCDSB, we strive to create partnerships with students, staff, families/caregivers and communities to ensure that every student feels they belong in their schools and classrooms, where we build skills to foster positive mental health and well-being, and where we bridge to identity-affirming clinical mental health services when required. To learn more about this work, see our Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy (2023-2027).