The Kenora Catholic District School Board (KCDSB) is entering year three of a transformative journey in student mental health, described by Mental Health Clinical Supervisor Sue Devlin as a “paradigm shift.” This evolution, built on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Michael Ungar, a world-renowned Canadian resilience expert and Director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University, is reshaping how the board approaches mental health support for students and families.
Building Resilience Through Collaboration
KCDSB began its mental health journey by equipping the Mental Health team with deep insights into Dr. Ungar’s research and practices, supported by ongoing training and consultation. This foundation expanded to include parents and educators, with initiatives like the caregiver book club based on Dr. Ungar’s book
I Still Love You and professional development sessions during PA Days in April
and September 2024.
“At KCDSB, we recognize that resilience isn’t a trait but a shared responsibility,” said Devlin. “Every influential adult in a child’s life plays a role in fostering their resilience. It’s about creating opportunities for students to succeed now, so they can build hope for the future.”
This approach prioritizes upstream programming, targeted prevention, and wraparound care systems that foster belonging and affirm student identity.
Key Highlights in Student Mental Health
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PreVenture Early Adoption: Now in its third year, KCDSB is an early adopter of the PreVenture program in partnership with School Mental Health Ontario. All Grade 8 students participate in this evidence-based prevention program aimed at promoting mental health and delaying substance use.
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Evidence-Based Programming: Over 80% of elementary classrooms received an evidence-based mental health program delivered by KCDSB’s Mental Health team in the 2023–24 school year.
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Project 11 Pilot: KCDSB became the first school board in Northwestern Ontario to pilot Project 11 in partnership with the True North Foundation, enhancing wellness programming for students.
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Dedicated Mental Health Workers: The board is one of only a few in Ontario with a dedicated Mental Health Worker or Student Well-Being Coach assigned to individual schools, enabling timely and responsive care for students.
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Expanded Student Leadership: Four new Student Mental Health Advisors, bringing the team to nine, were recruited to ensure youth voices are central to mental health programming and service delivery.
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System-Wide Commitment: KCDSB leadership has prioritized mental health through system-wide PA Days focused on mental health and by allocating the resources necessary to ensure students have timely access to professionals.
Looking Ahead
KCDSB is currently developing a three-year mental health strategy to be released in June 2025. This strategy will align with Ministry of Education guidelines under PPM 169, prioritize identity-affirming care, integrate evidence-informed practices, and engage students and families in shaping mental health services.
Through its partnership with Dr. Ungar and a focus on collaboration, KCDSB is bringing the “it takes a village” philosophy to life, ensuring all students feel supported, connected, and empowered to succeed.