The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) provides many resources for parents looking for assistance with their student's mental health and well-being in and outside of school. For more information, contact your student's principal or vice-principal.
Community services, supports and resources
Contact any of the following professional community organizations and view more information for assistance in a wide range of mental health and well-being issues.
Children First (ages 0 to 6) |
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Children First provides services for families with children up to age 6 who are at risk for or experiencing mental health challenges or developmental concerns. Children First uses a family-centred approach based on the principles of respecting every family's beliefs, values and culture. Their program respects the strengths and resourcefulness of all families and aims to support and encourage families in their efforts to meet the needs of children. |
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare - Regional Children's Centre |
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The Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare - Regional Children's Centre's (RCC) child and youth mental health programs include:
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Maryvale Children's Mental Health Treatment Centre (ages 13 to 17) |
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Maryvale is a children's mental health treatment centre in Windsor, where adolescents experiencing very serious emotional, psychological and mental distress can receive therapy and assistance from a team of experts. Maryvale helps young people and their families who feel highly anxious, depressed, suicidal, worthless or helpless, or who have lost their willingness to care about others. They may be dealing with debilitating learning disabilities. Some students attend Maryvale during the day for school, while others come for after school programs. Others attend for counselling to sort out areas of distress. |
Mental health information, referrals and supports |
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Contact any of these community organizations for mental health and well-being information, referral or support.
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Mental health services and counselling |
Crisis support |
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Contact any of these organizations for crisis support: |
Telephone help lines |
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Contact any of these help lines for immediate support:
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Alcohol and drug addiction |
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Trans/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth services |
Eating disorders |
Proper sleeping |
Cannabis use |
Gambling and gaming addiction |
Experiencing homelessness |
Sexual health, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
Domestic violence |
Pregnancy help services |
Parenting classes |
Youth employment and income services |
Frequently asked questions
View some commonly asked questions about students' mental health and well-being.
Where do I take my child or youth if they are a safety risk to themselves or others? |
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If your child or youth is at risk to self-harm or harm others, please go to the Emergency Room as instructed by the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Regional Children's Centre. If your child or youth is in emotional distress and not currently a safety risk to themselves or others, please go to the Regional Children's Centre's Counselling Clinic or the Canadian Mental Health Association's Transitional Stability Centre. |
Where do I find grief support for my child or youth? |
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You can find grief support services at the Children's Bereavement Program (Griefworks) with the Canadian Mental Health Association. |
Where can I find support groups for parents and guardians who are taking care of children or youth with mental health needs? |
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You can find support groups with the Family Care Centre's Windsor Peer Support Chapter and Leamington Mood Disorders Self Help Group. |
How do I communicate my child or youth's mental health needs to their teachers? |
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Contact us through the contact listed on this page to start a conversation about your child or youth's mental health needs. You can also explore our special education programs and services, which strengthen individual student learning, growth and development. Some tips include:
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What tools or activities can families do with their children or youth to promote well-being? |
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Learn to practice mindfulness with your student. Mindfulness is the practice of detaching oneself from the noise of the outside world and one's own inner noise by connecting with the calm center that exists within each of us. Studies have found that mindfulness practices can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, improve sleep and prepare us for learning. This can include practicing gratitude, calm breathing techniques, intention setting, mindful eating, etc. You can practice some of these fun and powerful mindfulness activities at home: |
How much sleep do teens need? How can I ensure my teen is getting the right amount? |
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Most teens need about eight to 10 hours of sleep per night. View WellCast's How to Sleep Better video and more information on the importance of sleep from TeensHealth. |
Why is there a Transition Plan completed before re-entry to school after a mental health-related hospital admission? |
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Transition Plans are needed as they support the student's needs while at school with daily check-ins, identified supportive adults within the building, supervision if required, safe spaces, communication between schools and communication with parents and treatment staff. |
How do I talk to my teen about vaping? |
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The Government of Canada provides a handy tip sheet for talking to your teen about vaping. |
Phone mental health support
If you need immediate help, view these phone supports that are here for you.
Kids Help Phone |
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Kids Help Phone allows you to chat with a trained, volunteer crisis responder for support any time, about anything. You can contact our 24-hour support line if you are any age up to 29. To contact Kids Help Phone, you can:
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Community Crisis Centre |
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Call the Community Crisis Centre at 519-973-4435 for 24-hour crisis line support if you are over age 16. |
Windsor-Essex Counselling Support Line |
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Call the Windsor-Essex Counselling Support Line at 519-946-3277 or 1-877-451-1055 for mild to moderate distress situations. This support line is open 24-hours and is open to those who are 18 or older. |
LGBT Youth Line |
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Contact the LGBT Youth Line for mental health support by:
Hours: 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday to Friday At Youth Line, all volunteers are trained peer supporters ages 16 to 29 with a diversity in 2SLGBTQ + identities and lived experiences. |
Hope for Wellness |
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Call Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat. The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It is available 24 hours daily to offer counselling and crisis intervention. |
Black Youth Helpline |
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Call Black Youth Helpline for mental health support by:
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools. |
Naseeha Mental Health Hotline |
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Contact Naseeha Mental Health Hotline at 1-866-627-3342 for 24-hour support. We answer calls seven days a week from around the world to support Muslim and non-Muslim youth. Naseeha Mental Health has been a great bridge for individuals who are going through life's challenges. Where hope is lost, Naseeha is found. We provide a safe zone for youths and individuals to talk and get the help they need. |