This course has been designed for educators working with students in ages 12 to 19.

This is a self-paced, non-credit, online course that consists of 6 modules. The estimated time commitment is approximately 6-8 hours in total. Modules are completed sequentially and each consists of:

1. Classroom activities

2. Self-guided study

3. Module test

This online program is asynchronous (no real-time events are scheduled).

Learn more about this course, including program background and learning objectives, on the Faculty of Education's Professional Development & Community Engagement website.

Mental health literacy is the foundation for mental health promotion, prevention, and care and can be developed through classroom based curriculum implementation that has been scientifically shown to improve mental health related outcomes for students and also for their teachers. A Canadian-developed, nationally and internationally-researched resource, the Mental Health Curriculum Guide (The Guide) – previously available only through face-to-face delivery– is now available online.

In this course, educators will learn how to apply this classroom-ready, web-based, modular mental health curriculum resource as well as develop their own mental health literacy. Educators can then use this resource designed to be delivered to regular classrooms to successfully address mental health-related curriculum outcomes designed to be delivered by classroom teachers to students aged 12 to 19.

RESPONSE is a comprehensive middle and high school program that increases awareness about suicide among school staff, students and parents. All program components are designed to heighten sensitivity to depression and suicidal ideation, increase identification, and facilitate referral. The program also provides procedures to refer a student who may be at-risk for suicide. Components include (1) a two-hour awareness training for staff, (2) a four-hour student curriculum (spread across four class periods), and parent awareness materials. An implementation assistance manual is also included for administrators. Before implementing the awareness components, participating schools must identify key staff to serve on a suicide prevention team. Key school-based staff should include the principal or vice-principal, a school-based RESPONSE coordinator, two "suicide contacts" responsible for handling referrals, and a counselor. Each component of RESPONSE integrates extensive “in the field” experience and key evaluation findings from other school-based programs. Videos for the awareness components were developed in collaboration with an award-winning film company.

NAMI Ending the Silence is an engaging, educational presentation given by presenters with mental health lived experiences, that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if a student or loved one begins showing symptoms of a mental health condition.