--- title: "Youth Mental Health Canada | Mental health education and support" description: "Youth Mental Health Canada is a registered charity providing tiered resources, free programs, and professional training since 2013." url: https://ymhc.ngo/ --- # Mental health education and support for young people, families, and schools. Youth Mental Health Canada is a registered charity providing tiered resources, free programs, and professional training since 2013. [Find resources and support](https://ymhc.ngo/#start-here)[Donate](https://ymhc.ngo/donate/) ## Start here Choose who you are looking for support for. - Students and youth7 links - [Free tutoring and mentorship (Building Bridges)](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/building-bridges/) - [Daily messages of support](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/daily-messages-of-support/) - [Request a handmade heart (Heart-to-Heart)](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/heart-to-heart/) - [Printable booklets](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/books/#booklets) - [Student workshops and presentations](https://ymhc.ngo/training/workshops/students/) - [Stories of school attendance challenges](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/school-attendance-challenges/stories/) - [Crisis Resources](https://crisis.ymhc.ngo/) - Parents and caregivers9 links - [Parent and family workshops](https://ymhc.ngo/training/workshops/parents-and-families/) - [Parent Peer Support Group](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/parent-peer-support-group/) - [Youth Wellness Action Plan online course](https://ymhc.ngo/training/ywap-course/) - [Guidebook for Families and Schools](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/books/supporting-students-guidebook/) - [Creating Your Education Support Team](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/books/creating-your-education-support-team/) - [Stories of school attendance challenges](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/school-attendance-challenges/stories/) - [National Survey on School Attendance Challenges](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/school-attendance-challenges/survey/) - [Crisis Resources](https://crisis.ymhc.ngo/) - [Checklists for Families](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/school-attendance-challenges/guide/families/) - Educators and schools9 links - [School attendance challenges (SAC) resources by tier](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/tiers/) - [School Attendance Challenges (SAC) online course](https://ymhc.ngo/training/sac-course/) - [Youth Wellness Action Plan (YWAP) online course](https://ymhc.ngo/training/ywap-course/) - [Virtual workshops for school staff](https://ymhc.ngo/training/workshops/professionals/) - [Heart-to-Heart for schools](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/heart-to-heart/) - [Posters, workbooks and guidebooks](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/) - [Refer a student to Building Bridges](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/building-bridges/) - [National conference on SAC](https://ymhc.ngo/conference/) - [Checklists for Schools](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/school-attendance-challenges/guide/schools/) - Professionals and community workers7 links - [Online certificate courses](https://ymhc.ngo/training/) - [Professional workshops](https://ymhc.ngo/training/workshops/professionals/) - [Compassionate cards for youth-serving agencies and community organizations](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/free-compassionate-cards/) - [Printable booklets](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/books/#booklets) - [Photocopiable workbooks](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/books/#workbooks) - [National conference on school attendance challenges](https://ymhc.ngo/conference/) - [Crisis Resources](https://crisis.ymhc.ngo/) ## Resources by tier Our resources follow a tiered model of support: universal tools for everyone (Tier 1), and targeted and intensive tools for students facing school attendance challenges (Tier 2–3). ### Tier 1 Universal mental wellness for all students 5 workbooks · 4 booklets · 1 course ![Mental Wellness Workbook, 2nd edition, cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/mental-wellness-workbook-cover.B-7XhYXj_29d279.webp)![Sources of Support for Mental Wellness, 2nd edition, cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/sources-of-support-cover.BkELi4ek_xIdNF.webp)![Beneath the Surface creative journal workbook cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/beneath-the-surface-cover.oiu75dgV_23TuXz.webp) Workbooks Mental Wellness Workbook, Sources of Support, Sources of Strength, Beneath the Surface, Wellness Action Plan Workbook Booklets Coping with Stress, Education Support Team, Automatic Negative Thoughts, The Feelings Wheel Online course Youth Wellness Action Plan (with photocopiable book) [Explore Tier 1 resources](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/tiers/#tier-1) ### Tier 2–3 Targeted and intensive support for students with school attendance challenges 1 guidebook · 1 workbook · 1 handbook · 1 course ![Handbook on School Attendance Challenges cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/sac-handbook-cover.72IDGmEp_ZgxMIr.webp)![My Experience of School student workbook cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/my-experience-of-school-cover.B8lncCdp_Z1FUQX4.webp)![Supporting Students with School Attendance Challenges: A Guidebook for Families and Schools cover](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/supporting-students-with-school-phobia-cover.Bk6FOiAF_1DkPeq.webp) Guidebook, workbook and handbook Guidebook: Supporting Students with School Attendance Challenges, Student Workbook: My Experience of School, Handbook on School Attendance Challenges Online course School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with School Attendance Challenges [Explore Tier 2–3 resources](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/tiers/#tier-2-3) Every title is available in print or photocopiable formats. [Browse the Resource Library](https://ymhc.ngo/resources/). ## Free programs and campaigns 1. ### Building Bridges Student Support Program Students facing attendance challenges or other barriers to learning Free virtual tutoring and one-to-one mentorship, with in-person support where available. [Apply for support](mailto:bb@ymhc.ngo?subject=Building%20Bridges%20Student%20Application)[Become a tutor](mailto:bb@ymhc.ngo?subject=Building%20Bridges%20Tutor%20Application) 2. ### YMHC Not Okay at School: Parent Peer Support Group Parents, caregivers, and families A private peer support community for families supporting children and youth who are experiencing school attendance challenges. [About the group](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/parent-peer-support-group/) 3. ### Heart-to-Heart Campaign Students absent due to mental health challenges, and volunteers Handmade hearts with messages of support, sent to students and schools. [Request or send hearts](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/heart-to-heart/) 4. ### Compassionate Card Service Anyone who wants to support someone who is struggling Peer support in action: send a message of support to someone who is struggling. [Send a card](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/compassionate-card-service/) 5. ### Daily Compassionate Messages of Support Youth and adults A message of support in your inbox each day: a small reminder that you are cared for and not alone. [Sign up](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/daily-messages-of-support/) 6. ### Compassionate Cards for Schools and Communities Schools, community organizations, and youth-serving agencies Free Compassionate Cards (24 printable cards) for peer support teams. [Get the free cards](https://ymhc.ngo/programs/free-compassionate-cards/) 7. ### Self-care Toolkit Youth and adults Online tools from YMHC: a monthly self-care planner, daily goal setting, and an interactive feelings wheel. [Open the toolkit](https://selfcare.ymhc.ngo/) ## Online Certificate Courses Self-paced professional training with a certificate of completion. [All training](https://ymhc.ngo/training/)[Book a workshop](https://ymhc.ngo/training/workshops/book/) - ![School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with School Attendance Challenges course banner](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/sac-certificate-course.C26u2QmB_Z24Dw6F.webp) Online certificate course · Tier 2–3 ### School-Wide Strategies to Support Students with School Attendance Challenges Across 10 units and 130+ lessons, the course explores student well-being, lived experience, human rights, disability, trauma, MTSS, suicide prevention, educational accommodations, family collaboration, and attendance data. [Course details](https://ymhc.ngo/training/sac-course/) [Enroll](https://courses.ymhc.ngo/courses/school-wide-strategies-to-support-students-with-school-attendance-challenges) - ![Youth Wellness Action Plan online certificate course banner](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/youth-wellness-action-plan-second-edition.LUYnWy77_2tEPXE.webp) Online certificate course · Tier 1 ### Youth Wellness Action Plan (YWAP), Second Edition A self-paced online program (5–7 hours) for educators, school staff, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers, and community members. It takes a proactive and preventative approach to youth mental health by empowering young people to create their own Personal Wellness Action Plan. [Course details](https://ymhc.ngo/training/ywap-course/) [Enroll](https://courses.ymhc.ngo/courses/youth-wellness-action-plan) National Conferences ## Youth Mental Health Canada 2027 Conference May 28 to 29, 2027 · Virtual Our third annual national virtual conference on school attendance challenges, with national and international speakers, panel discussions, and the development of multi-tiered school-wide strategies for supporting students. [Register](https://site.pheedloop.com/event/YMHC2027/register#category) [Become a sponsor](mailto:conference@ymhc.ngo?subject=Conference%20sponsorship) ### Past conferences - ![](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/ymhc-2026-conference-banner.CY6z--0R_ZPSmLB.webp) 2026 [Waves of Change in School Attendance Challenges](https://ymhc.ngo/conference/2026/) - ![](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/ymhc-2025-conference-banner.DoA_Q0WJ_6tp1s.webp) 2025 [Youth Mental Health Canada 2025 National Virtual Conference](https://ymhc.ngo/conference/2025/) [All conferences](https://ymhc.ngo/conference/) ## Our impact $350,000+ In the last five years, YMHC has donated over $350,000 worth of wellness workbooks, workshops, and training courses to Indigenous communities, community organizations, schools, and libraries. [Read the 2025–2026 Impact Report](https://ymhc.ngo/about/impact-reports/ymhc-2025-2026-impact-report/) [All impact reports](https://ymhc.ngo/about/impact-reports/) Since 2013 Providing educational resources focused on mental wellness, resilience, strength, and hope. Peer reviewed All workbooks have been peer-reviewed by mental health professionals. Multilingual Many resources are offered in English and French, with translation initiatives including Inuktitut. ## News [View all news](https://ymhc.ngo/news/) - ![](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/celebrating-national-child-and-youth-mental-health-day-2026.DfbHIKUt_ZkGshE.webp) ### [Celebrating National Child and Youth Mental Health Day 2026](https://ymhc.ngo/news/celebrating-national-child-and-youth-mental-health-day-2026/) May 8, 2026 · By Iyin Soyemi Childhood is the most formative period of our lives. - ![](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/2026-world-autism-acceptance-day-understanding-inclusion-and-support.BGKrmz9l_Z1le36s.webp) ### [2026 World Autism Acceptance Day: Understanding, Inclusion, and Support](https://ymhc.ngo/news/2026-world-autism-acceptance-day-understanding-inclusion-and-support/) April 1, 2026 · By Iyin Soyemi One of the major milestones we reach in childhood is developing the ability to notice physical differences in the people around us. - ![](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/transgender-day-of-remembrance-2025-honoring-lives-demanding-change.-rD-_fjc_2kh3aj.webp) ### [Transgender Day of Remembrance 2025: Honoring Lives, Demanding Change](https://ymhc.ngo/news/transgender-day-of-remembrance-2025-honoring-lives-demanding-change/) November 19, 2025 Every year on November 20th, people remember transgender and gender-diverse people who were killed because of their gender identity. ## Get involved You can support us by contributing in many ways to YMHC and the work that we do. ![YMHC workbooks on a display stand below YMHC t-shirts in the YMHC office](https://ymhc.ngo/_astro/ymhc-merch.qMjjBTgx_ZDcftG.webp) - [DonateFund suicide prevention strategies in education and programs focused on youth mental health in Canada.](https://ymhc.ngo/donate/) - [VolunteerTutor or mentor a student through Building Bridges, or knit, sew, or crochet hearts for Heart-to-Heart.](https://ymhc.ngo/contact/) - [Start a fundraiserOrganize a bake sale, a charity run, or a movie night, or dedicate your birthday to YMHC.](https://ymhc.ngo/get-involved/create-your-own-fundraiser/) - [Donate a carTurn an old vehicle into mental health support for young people.](https://ymhc.ngo/get-involved/donate-a-car/) ### Subscribe to our monthly newsletter Stay informed about YMHC news, resources, events, and practical mental wellness tools with our monthly newsletter. Email address Opens Substack in a new tab to confirm your subscription. Enter an email address in the format name@example.com.