Mental Health, Technology and Substance Use

Supports for Families

We all want our children to grow up physically and mentally healthy, build meaningful relationships, and successfully navigate life’s challenges. This web page contains links for parents/caregivers and families to information and services that you can trust, focused on well-being and building positive coping strategies, recognizing possible mental health concerns and connecting to available supports, vaping/substance use, and cell phone/technology use.

Prevention and Intervention Resources

By Your Side Hub

By Your Side Well-being Webinar Series

School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics related to substance use and addictive behaviors. 

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:

How to talk about substance use at home 
The intersection of addictions and mental health 
Recognizing signs of substance use and behavioural addictions 
Current trends in student substance use in Ontario – What parents/caregivers need to know 
Technology overuse and problematic gaming

The  By Your Side  resource hub is supported by Ministry of Education funding, to focus on increasing mental health awareness, promoting wellness, and reducing stigma related to mental health concerns for parents/caregivers of Ontario students.

Canadian Mental Health Association

The Canadian Mental Health Association website has a great deal of information about child and youth mental health issues and services in Ontario.

KPRDSB Mental Health Resources

Access KPR resources and community resources, such as Kids Help Phone, to support health and well-being for students.

Cellphones and Technology

Navigating Digital Technology

SMHO resource - Digital technology can support learning, skill development, connection with others and can provide access to help if/when needed. Today, technology readily connects children to experiences, information and other people. However, excessive screen use can impact mental health and well-being.

Balancing Technology Use

CAMH resource - Technology overuse occurs when technology controls the user, rather than the user controlling it. It might sound like a simple concept – and it is – but psychological factors come into play that encourage people to become addicted to their devices.

Digital Citizenship

KPR sourced resources - Technology and online engagement play an important role in student learning and we are committed to preparing our students to participate positively, responsibly, and safely in our digital communities that extend beyond the classroom.

Devices in Schools

School boards and schools have policies and limits on using mobile devices at school with clear roles and responsibilities for students and staff. Visit the Ministry of Education website for more information about using mobile devices such as cellphones in schools in the classroom.

Screen Time Strategies

Learn the four tips for managing your childrens screen time - Minimize, Mindfully, Mitigate, and Model. More strategies and information.

Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use

GGTU support addictions and mental health through training and education, developing digital tools and resources, and facilitating knowledge sharing.

Vaping and Smoking

Learn more about the risks of vaping. Vaping is not allowed on school property. Vaping can have serious health impacts for teens, including increased risk of nicotine addiction, lung damage and negative impacts on brain development.

Health Canada Vaping Resources

These awareness resources can help youth in Canada make informed choices about the risks of vaping and provide information to help those who want to quit.

Vaping: What You and Your Friends Need to Know

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - A factsheet for youth that provides general information about vaping and outlines important facts, associated risks, and additional resources.

Smoking and Vaping Resources

Talking to your children about smoking and vaping can play a big part in helping them to be informed and make good choices.

Drug Free Canada

Visit the Drugs Free Canada website for tips and resources to help you have effective conversations about substance use with your kids.

Youth and Vaping – Drug Free Kids Canada

A resource which provides information about vaping, nicotine, and cannabis, and practical tips on how to start an open and honest conversation about vaping with pre-teens and teens.

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Education information about Cannabis at schools.

Cessation Supports

Public Health Smoking/Vaping Resources

Developed for grades 7-12, this is a digital toolkit to educate and build capacity among educators and youth champions about e-cigarettes and vaping, including an interactive, yet educational escape room-style activity.

Not An Experiment

English French

Talk Tobacco

Talk Tobacco is a free confidential program offering culturally appropriate support and information about quitting smoking, vaping and commercial tobacco use to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities.

Quash App

Quash App - A judgement-free program developed by the Lung Health Foundation that is specifically designed to help youth (14-19) quit smoking or vaping. There are two versions of the Quash program that can be used separately or together, depending on the needs of the young person trying to quit. One version is a self-directed program for youth through the app. The other version is an adult facilitation version of the program delivered to youth online or in-person over seven sessions.

The Lung Health Association

The Lung Health Association offers information and support to help quit smoking. Or take a pledge to create a smoke-free generation.

Parent/Caregiver Awareness Survey

After reviewing the resources on this web page, please take a minute to complete a very brief (4 question) survey.

Please click here to complete the survey.