How Does the Ontario Education System Support Educators to Identify and Support Students with Mental Health Challenges?

The purpose of this study is to explore how educators in Ontario’s publicly funded education system are supported to identify and support students who exhibit a variety of behaviours that may be indicative of a mental health challenge in order to foster an inclusive learning environment. In this exploratory, qualitative research study, six participants with extensive experience in the field of child and youth education and mental health were interviewed. Data was collected through face-to-face, open-ended interviews and compared with relevant bodies of literature to draw connections, implications and make recommendations for next steps regarding how to best support educators in their quest to make the classroom a safe and inclusive place for students to learn