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Looking back for the months ahead As we approach the summer, we want to revisit some resources that can support well-being and mental health over those couple of months away from school. We have been producing Mental Health and Well-being Snapshots for the last three school years. All 28 of them can be found on the Saanich School District website. However, in this snapshot we wanted to highlight some key issues from this year and last year that provide information on a range of topics related to mental health and well-being. By linking back to these resources, we hope to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to prioritize and nurture your wellness over the summer break.
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| The importance of connection Establishing and maintaining meaningful connections with others is vital for our overall well-being. This snapshot delves into the significance of social connections and highlights strategies for fostering positive relationships, as they play a pivotal role in promoting mental health and emotional support.
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Substance use Substance misuse can severely impact mental and physical health. Even so, substances are a part of mainstream life in many ways, so our role as educators and parents can be to educate youth about risks and ways to make informed choices.. This snapshot provides insights into the risks associated with substance use, the signs of addiction, and resources available for support. By understanding substance use and its impact, students, parents, and educators can make informed decisions and seek appropriate help if needed.
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| Healthy habits Fostering healthy habits is crucial for our overall well-being. This snapshot explores the significance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle, incorporating regular exercise, nutritious eating, quality sleep, and stress management techniques. By adopting healthy habits, students, parents, and educators can optimize their physical and mental well-being.
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Well-being at home With the understanding that our home environment greatly impacts our mental health, this snapshot focuses on providing practical strategies for creating a supportive and nurturing home environment. It highlights the importance of open communication, establishing routines, and promoting a positive atmosphere, which are key factors in fostering well-being.
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Mental health literacy Developing mental health literacy not only helps us recognize and understand common mental health concerns, but is a key step in stigma reduction. This snapshot provides valuable insights into mental health conditions, their symptoms, and suggestions for seeking help and support when needed. By enhancing our mental health literacy, we can better support ourselves and others.
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Climate anxiety and ecological grief Climate change and environmental concerns can have a profound impact on mental health. This snapshot delves into the emotions of climate anxiety and ecological grief, while offering coping mechanisms to navigate these complex feelings. It encourages students, parents, and educators to take action and cultivate hope for a sustainable future.
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Healthy relationships Healthy relationships are fundamental for our well-being. This snapshot explores the characteristics of healthy relationships, including effective communication, boundaries, and mutual respect. By understanding and cultivating healthy relationships, we can foster positive social connections and emotional support, which are key protective factors for positive mental health.
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Resilience Resilience is the ability to navigate and access resources (internal and external) to cope and thrive despite adversity, and it is a valuable skill to cultivate. This snapshot focuses on strategies to build resilience, emphasizing the importance of developing a growth mindset, self-care practices, and seeking support when facing challenges. By building resilience, students, parents, and educators can navigate difficulties with greater strength and adaptability.
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Balance with technology In an increasingly digital world, finding balance with technology is crucial for our well-being. This snapshot explores the impact of excessive screen time and provides strategies to establish healthy boundaries with technology use. By promoting mindful and intentional use of technology, we can foster a healthier relationship with digital devices.
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Virtual groups for youth and caregivers at the Foundry From support and strategies related to body image and disordered eating, to post-secondary planning, and emotion-focused groups for caregivers, these online groups take a holistic view of well-being and mental health. If there is not a fit for you over the summer months, check back often as there are new offerings every couple of months.
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 | Power To Be "have a go" days Power to Be is a non-profit organization that believes everyone belongs in nature, and offers nature-based programs and experiences for children, youth, and families, designed to eliminate barriers to accessibility, They offer "have a go" days that are Free for anyone who wants to participate in an inclusive outdoor activity.
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Parenting groups and resources Boys and Girls Club runs a number of online and in-person parenting groups, including Helping Parents and Teens Grow Together, and Parenting Without Power Struggles. Visit their website to learn more and to register.
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 | Family Smart seminars Family Smart offers a monthly learning series for parents called "In the Know." All Online events are facilitated by FamilySmart Parent Peer Support Workers, and cover a broad range of topics. The topic for June is called "Beyond Behaviours."
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Summer reading club at your local library We've pointed out the wellness benefits that reading can bring in previous snapshots. Your local libraries are offering a program to help your child keep up that healthy habit over the summer break and enter into next school year feeling great about their reading skills.
Starting this week, children aged 12 and under (or their parent or caregiver) can visit a branch of VIRL or GVPL libraries to collect a 2023 BC Summer Reading Club package. The package provides incentives for daily reading and helps children strengthen their connection to the local resource of libraries!
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 | Youth Clinics These two local youth clinics offer mental health and medical care, and can include doctors and other supportive professionals within the same building such as counsellors or youth workers. Foundry Victoria offers a range of wellness services for young people ages 12-24, including physical and mental health care, substance use supports, social services and peer support. Foundry is located in downtown Victoria and operates 5 days a week. They also offer a virtual service that can connect youth with counselling, peer support, and primary care. The Peninsula Youth Clinic offers a similar model on a smaller scale. The clinic is open from 5:30-7:30PM on Thursday nights, and operates out of the Shoreline Medical Clinic in Sidney.
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Crisis phone and text lines With schools closed for two months over the summer holiday, and many service providers taking breaks during that time as well, it can make a crisis even harder to manage. Thankfully, there are resources that are available to help. There are a number of phone and text crisis lines available to youth and families. We cover some of them below: 24-Hour Vancouver Island Crisis Line1-888-494-3888 The Vancouver Island Crisis Line provides a supportive listening ear for people in emotional distress and connection to emergency mental health services when needed. This line is also a pathway to access the IMCRT service mentioned above. YouthSpace (6PM-12AM)Youthspace.ca is an online crisis and emotional support chat service. Trained volunteers listen without judgement, and keep chats confidential and anonymous. Click here to access online chatOr, text 778 783 0177 24-Hour KUU-US Line1-800-588-8717 The KUU-US Crisis and support line supports Indigenous people throughout BC. Risk assessment, mediation, and de-escalation can be part of that support, as well as connection with local community agencies and responders. BC Crisis Centre (Phone and chat lines)1-800-784-2433 The BC Crisis Centre offers a range of services, from 24 hour phone lines for crisis and mental health support, to online chat for youth and adults (noon to 1AM). Review all of their services and access addition numbers from their website.
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...And don't forget about SD63's Mental Wellness Hub This site compiles both local and online mental health and wellness resources for families and educators, including information about SEL and resilience, and is updated monthly during the school year with new resources. While we won't be adding new updates over July and August, there are many resources listed on this site which can be helpful over the summer months.
Wishing all members of our Saanich Schools community a restful and restorative summer!
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