Province pledges funding for student mental health

Minister announces initiatives to help kids struggling with pandemic

The province is pledging $10 million for school boards to boost mental health services for students to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted student mental health and well-being,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce, noting the additional funding will “help ensure critical front-line and wraparound supports are helping those Ontario students who need it most.”

The additional $10 million is on top of a previously announced $25 million used to hire about 180 mental health workers for Ontario high schools.

Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, welcomed the move, saying the shutdown is taking a toll on students.

“The significant change in routines, physical activity, and social interaction, as well as the reduction of student-teacher interaction has had varying effects on students and their families,” she said.

“More mental health worker support will help school boards adequately prepare for these greater needs when school buildings reopen.”

NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles said that unless the government boosts per-student funding overall, staff and students “will struggle. The 201920 school year was unprecedentedly difficult for children and youth, and we need to be there to help them recover.”

Lecce also announced $15 million for boards to buy about 35,000 computers in total across the province.

Former Liberal education minister and premier Kathleen Wynne said the funds will be shared by 72 school boards and 5,000 schools and “that doesn’t look like enough money to make a real difference.”