With research indicating that 20 per cent of Canadian students suffer from a mental health illness and teachers facing higher levels of stress than the general public work force, there is a need for more support for mental health resiliency in the classroom. To meet that need, Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada), along with Supporting Partner The Co-operators and program partners, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and University of Western – Centre For School Mental Health, is proud to announce the launch of Teach Resiliency.
TeachResiliency.ca is a public online portal offering teachers simple-to-use tools and strategies to assess resilience needs and access to resources to promote and enhance both teacher and student mental well-being. Teach Resiliency will feature more than 150 evidence-based mental health resources, 20+ videos and podcasts, tip sheets and more, covering a range of mental health matters to support teachers and their students.
“Through our research we identified a significant gap in education,” said Brian Storey, PHE Canada president and CEO. “But this gap has provided an opportunity to make a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of students and teachers across the country – and Teach Resiliency is a great first step in this effort.”
Every day in Canada more than five million kids go to school, with statistics indicating that one in five suffer from a mental health problem or illness - from anxiety and depression to severe emotional disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. As such, a typical Canadian classroom can expect to have at least four children who need extra mental health support. At the front of these classes are teachers, who are contending with the stress of helping students who are struggling, while still managing all the other roles and responsibilities laid upon them as professional educators. Research shows that teachers experience burnout at a rate greater than that of the general public workforce.
“As a group benefits provider, we understand the challenges related to mental health in the workplace and are committed to being part of the solution,” said Rob Wesseling, president and CEO of The Co-operators. “Teachers face tremendous pressure and responsibility. They are better able to support their students when their own well-being is taken care of. The Teach Resiliency program provides much-needed resources that will make a difference to teachers and students across Canada.”
To learn more, visit teachresiliency.ca.