Information for Parents

Caring Minds (Grades 7-12) > Information for Parents

Information for Parents

Dear parents,

Welcome to the caring Minds mental health curricula and resources. We have created these materials primarily for teachers, however, they can also be used for family and community group discussions with a little advance preparation. In this twenty-first century, mental health issues and impacts are part of people’s daily lives. As academics and professionals, we have often heard teachers say that there is a need for relevant and timely materials that could be used to help young people understand the complex and sometimes controversial aspects of mental health and mental illness, and to appreciate the challenges and opportunities that people face as they deal with the “lived experience” of mental health difficulties, treatment, and recovery.

The four curricular Units cover historical and current topics related to mental health: understanding, housing, self-determination, and treatment. The Units and lessons were developed with input from middle school and secondary teachers, community mental health service providers, and mental health service users. All activities and resources in the Units have been checked for appropriate context, however, it is always possible that some young people will experience negative associations or be affected in unanticipated ways. Please contact the school or your local mental health service or community help line if you think that your child is in need of further support.

We hope that these lessons and materials will promote greater understanding of and acceptance for mental health priorities, problems, and treatments. We would appreciate any comments, questions, and suggestions for improvement. It is our hope that we will be able to add new lessons and resources in the future.

Best wishes,

Megan Davies and Anne Marshall