Stressed out about school? We’ve got you covered.

It’s important to pay attention to your mental health just as you would your physical health. CMHA Ontario is reminding students to keep their mental health in check with some quick stress-management tips. Those struggling with low mood or anxiety can turn to our free skill-building program BounceBack^®: Reclaim your health to learn how to deal with stress, being overwhelmed and worried, and more. Through BounceBack, youth 15 and up will learn practical skills to help improve their mental health.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Take care of your body. Mental and physical health are basically linked. BounceBack can help you get active by doing the things you love and learning how to plan more exercise into your life.
• Overcome sleep problems. Identify what things are preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep and some changes you can make to help overcome sleep problems.
• Practical problem solving. Approach a problem by breaking it down into manageable smaller parts. It’s easier to tackle one small piece at a time.

To help get you started, take a look and try some of the ideas included in this tip sheet.

In addition, watch the BounceBack online videos for tips on sleeping better, increasing activity, problem solving, and more. You can watch the videos on our website at any time at bouncebackvideo.ca by entering your email address and access code: bbtodayon.

If you need additional support, check out our BounceBack telephone coaching program with skill-building workbooks. You’ll be able to connect one-on-one with a coach, who’s trained in youth mental health. Like a personal trainer or a coach, they’ll help guide, support and encourage you, as you progress through a series of booklets at your own pace and schedule.

You can sign up for the program yourself but will need to provide us with your primary care provider’s contact information. This can be a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist. You can also talk to your family doctor to provide you with a referral. Your school guidance counsellor can also assist you in completing the referral form. Once a referral is submitted, you will be contacted by a BounceBack coach within 5-10 business days to schedule a telephone assessment. To learn more about the BounceBack program, please visit the youth section at: bouncebackontario.ca.