Preparing for the Summer 

Dear Families and Caregivers,

As the 2023 - 2024 school year comes to a close, we reflect on the year that’s been - the new learning that has occurred, new skills acquired, challenges and adversities confronted and overcome, memories made and contemplate the upcoming summer break. 

Stay connected this summer through various community events listed below, and take advantage of the mental health resources provided throughout York Region. Remember, summer is not just a time for activities, but also for taking care of yourselves. We hope you have a wonderful, restful summer! We encourage you to welcome the spectrum of feelings that can arise for students when the end of the school year is here. Some years are more challenging than others, and celebrating a year’s end can bring a multitude of feelings. Celebrating all the successes- big and small can help in this transition. 

We want to share a couple guides for students and families to access over the summer break. These include resources to access for community, support and building coping skills.  

We want to remind you of the resources on School Mental Health Ontario  such as: easy and fun mental health activities , everyday mental health practices to practice at home this summer. Here is an article offering Strategies for a Successful Summer Break. We encourage you to stay connected to others through many community events that we have listed below, and take care through offerings provided by many Mental Health organizations throughout York Region. We hope the summer is also a time to take care of yourself! 

Summer Events and Ideas 

In the Community

• Inexpensive and free summer events abound around Newmarket, Aurora and East Gwillimbury 

At Home 

• 30+ videos & mental health activities for kids 

• Do you have elementary school children at home? Try these easy and fun mental health activities 

• 10 Children's Mental Health Week Activities | Cosmic Kids

• 11 Best Mental Health Activities for Kids in 2024

• 8 Mental Health Activities for Kids and Teens

• 10 Mental Health Activities you can Do With Your Children | CentreSpring MD

For Reading 

• How Can We Help Kids With Transitions? - Child Mind Institute   

• Strategies for a Successful Summer Break - Child Mind Institute

• 13 Tips for Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp

• Screen Time & Technology - Child Mind Institute

• How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child    

Supportive Resources

Mental Health Resources in York Region

YorkHills Here to Help Line (905-503-9561) 

• The Here to Help Line is a free service available to children/youth (0-18 years) and their parents/caregiver/adult supporters.
• Monday to Thursday from 2:00p.m.-7:00p.m. 

Family Services York Region (905-895-2371)

• Virtual walk in is operated on a first come, first serve basis, and can be accessed once per month.
• Virtual appointments can be 15 minutes to 1.5 hours long depending on needs.
• Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

CMHA BounceBack Ontario

• Do you feel that maybe you could benefit from some support? BounceBack® provides resources to support learning new skills, including a trained coach who can provide up to six telephone sessions.
• BounceBack Coaching is available through the provincial Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program. Offered to youth aged 15-17 and adults 18+.

YRDSB Mental Health Resource Page 

• Continue to check out the YRDSB website for updated information as well as the Twitter account @YRDSB 
• Follow YRDSB Mental Health on Twitter @MH_YRDSB 

Community Mental Health Events

For Students

Kerry's Place Autism Services 

• Services & Supports – Events 

Public Libraries / Regional Municipality of York Events for Children and Families

• Markham Public Library Events 
• Vaughan Public Library Events 
• Richmond Hill Public Library Events
• Newmarket Public Library Events

For Caregivers

Yorkhills Centre for Children, Youth and Families

• Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 PM, Many Faces of Anxiety  
• Wednesday, June 19, 6:30 PM, Parenting a Child with Attention Deficit Disorder, Unwrapping the Gifts of a Distracted Mind - Part 3 Parenting a Child with Attention Deficit Disorder
• Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 PM, Understanding and Managing Anxiety in Children/Youth Living with ASD

Family Services York Region

•  Free To Be
  • Third Monday of Each Month, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  • This is a free virtual group for parents/caregivers of gender diverse children, regardless of age which meets once a month. Free to Be offers an opportunity to meet for support and education. The goal of this program is to destigmatize gender diversity

Kinark Autism Services  

• Upcoming Events- Child, Youth & Family Autism Programs in Ontario

PFlag 

• Coffee Night, held every second Monday of the month, is a safe space where members of the LGBTQ2 community, their friends, family or allies can come together. 
• Online Registration

This edition of the newsletter was written by the Student Mental Health and Addictions Strategy Implementation Team 2023-2024, inclusive of YRDSB School Social Workers Ruth Damdar, Kymani Spence, Peter Reid and Kate Phillips. 

If you have any questions please contact mental.health@yrdsb.ca 

 Patricia Marra-Stapleton, M.Sc., C. Psych. Assoc. 

• Mental Health Lead 

Hoshana Calliste, M.S.W., R.S.W. 

• Assistant Coordinator of Mental Health 

Paula Vicente M.S.W., R.S.W.

• Assistant Coordinator of Mental Health