Information for parents: in-class workshop for teens
Mental Health Basics
Information for parents: in-class workshop for teens
Mental Health Basics
Because your school believes that the well-being of young people is an essential condition for their success, your child has participated in, or will soon participate in our workshop, Mental Health Basics (cycle 1). This page explains what your child will be learning during the workshop and provides practical tools to help them apply it in their daily lives.
Why this workshop?
Our free Mental Health Basics workshop is designed for Secondary 1 and 2 students. Its goal is to equip teens with the building blocks for positive mental health.
Our mental health tools help teens:
😟 |
😌 |
📖 |
🤝 |
| Reduce their risk of developing symptoms of psychological distress | Cope with and regulate their anxiety | Develop their capacity for introspection | Improve their ability to maintain strong relationships |
Because your school believes that the well-being of young people is an essential condition for their success, your child has participated in, or will soon participate in our workshop, Mental Health Basics (cycle 1). This page explains what your child will be learning during the workshop and provides practical tools to help them apply it in their daily lives.
Why this workshop?
Our free Mental Health Basics workshop is designed for Secondary 1 and 2 students. Its goal is to equip teens with the building blocks for positive mental health.
Our mental health tools help teens:
😟Reduce their risk of developing symptoms of psychological distress |
😌Cope with and regulate their anxiety |
📖Develop their capacity for introspection |
🤝Improve their ability to maintain strong relationships |
WHAT WILL THEY LEARN?
In this workshop, students learn to:
- Understand mental health and how the brain works
- Understand how mental health can affect our behaviour (stress response)
- Better understand the usefulness of emotions
- Take the time to observe their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in day-to-day life
- Use mindfulness as a way to regulate their emotions
- Practise mentalization to better understand themselves and protect their relationships
- Sort through their thoughts
- Know when and where to use the knowledge and tools they have acquired
This workshop has been developed by a committee of experts and is usually facilitated by two members of our animation team who have completed 140 hours of training.
After the workshop, check in with your child by asking these questions:
- What did you learn during the workshop? Would you like to tell me about it?
- Is there anything you already knew?
- Had you ever thought about these topics? Have you ever talked about them with friends?
- Do you ever experience situations or events that affect your mental health?
- What reflexes do you already have to take care of your mental health on a daily basis? What do you do when you’re feeling down?
- Do you have people you can confide in? Are there things you don’t feel comfortable telling me? What can I do to change that?
For parents and teens
Content shared with students during the workshop
How does the brain work in adolescence?
What are the main stages of development in adolescence? What’s the brain’s role in all these changes?
Watch video
Managing your emotions through mindfulness
Learn more about mindfulness, how it can help you take a break and let your thoughts settle, and how you can easily practice it.
Watch video
How to manage your relationships through mentalization
Learn more about mentalization and how it can save your friendships!
Watch video
Unhelpful thoughts
An easy-to-understand diagram to help you sort out your thoughts and reduce anxiety.
Download PDF
Mental Health Basics workshop memo
A tool given to the young people during the workshop to help them think about activities that make them feel good and ways to sort out their thoughts.
Download PDFTools to prolong the benefits of the workshop at home
Workshop handout: Helping teens maintain good mental health
A handout summarizing the key concepts presented in our workshop for Secondary 1 and 2.
Download PDF
Mindfulness for families
With this complete mini-guide, you will benefit from an introduction to mindfulness to lead your own meditations at home and share precious moments with your child.
Download PDF
Building a better relationship with your teen through mentalization
Through concrete examples of situations at home, discover how to apply mentalization, a super-effective tool for cultivating healthy relationships with others and with yourself.
Watch video
Miniguide Teen anxiety - For families
A complete mini-guide to help your teen better manage their anxiety.
Download PDF
Helping your teen manage anxiety
Here are a few testimonials in which parents talk about their teen’s anxiety and how they react to it.
Watch video
HELPING TEENS DEVELOP DIGITAL WELL-BEING
Here are a few tips to help you deal with this new hyperconnected reality and get teens to adopt a positive relationship with their screens.
Download PDF
Building a positive relationship with your teen
Here are our tips to help you build a positive relationship with your teenager and get through this important period more smoothly.
Learn more
Family toolkit: resources to support a teenager
Here, you’ll find clear information and practical advice to help you support them through this period of change and intense emotions.
Explore our toolkit
Testimonial from a mother in Gaspésie
2024
Testimonial from a mother in Gaspésie
2024