Building Bridges Student Support Program

Free Tutoring and Mentorship for Students Experiencing Barriers to Education and Learning

YMHC’s Building Bridges Student Support Program provides free virtual tutoring and mentorship for students experiencing school attendance challenges or other barriers to education and learning.

Students are matched with caring tutors or mentors who can provide academic assistance, study and organizational support, encouragement, and individualized guidance.

Building Bridges is designed to be flexible and responsive to each student’s needs. The program helps students stay connected to learning while building confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.

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Tutoring, mentorship, and academic support for students

Youth Mental Health Canada’s Building Bridges Student Support Program provides free virtual and in-person tutoring and mentoring for students experiencing school attendance challenges or other barriers to education and learning.

The program is designed to offer flexible, individualized, relationship-based support. We help students stay connected to learning, build confidence, reduce isolation, and access practical academic and mentoring support in ways that respond to their needs.

Whether a student is catching up after missed school, feeling overwhelmed by coursework, having difficulty completing assignments, needing support with organization and study routines, or looking for encouragement from a caring tutor or mentor, Building Bridges is here to help.

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How Building Bridges can help

  • Academic tutoring

    Tutors can help students understand class lessons, complete assignments, prepare for tests and exams, catch up on missed work, and strengthen study habits.

    Support may be available in a range of subjects and areas, including:

    • Math, functions, advanced functions, and calculus
    • Chemistry, biology, physics, and general science
    • English and French
    • History, geography, philosophy, psychology, and other social sciences
    • Study skills
    • Organization and planning
    • Homework completion
    • Test and exam preparation

  • Learning support

    Students may need support with more than a specific school subject. Tutors can also help students:

    • Understand class lessons
    • Complete assignments
    • Catch up on missed work
    • Create a homework or study routine
    • Prepare for tests and exams
    • Organize school materials
    • Reconnect with learning
    • Build confidence in their ability to learn

    Support can be adapted to the student’s individual learning needs, strengths, circumstances, and goals.

  • One-to-one mentorship

    Mentors offer encouragement, positive relationship-building, and individualized support for students as they work toward their learning goals.

    Mentorship can help students build confidence, develop routines, strengthen organization and planning skills, and reconnect with learning at a pace that feels manageable.

    Students may benefit from a tutor or mentor who is patient, encouraging, calm, organized, good at explaining things, or familiar with anxiety and school attendance challenges.

A relationship-based approach 

Building Bridges recognizes that school challenges are often complex. Students may experience barriers related to learning, mental health and well-being, disability, family circumstances, school environment, social connection, or access to appropriate educational support.

Tutoring and mentoring can be adapted to a student’s:

  • Learning strengths and needs
  • Accessibility needs
  • Language and communication preferences
  • Academic support needs
  • Interests
  • Availability
  • Personal learning goals

YMHC works to create a supportive match that helps each student feel respected, understood, encouraged, and capable.

Working alongside schools and families

Building Bridges is intended to complement, not replace, the work of schools, teachers, families, educational support teams, and community professionals.

YMHC encourages coordinated approaches that place the student’s needs, strengths, circumstances, and educational access at the centre of planning.

Schools, families, and community organizations can connect students with Building Bridges when additional tutoring or mentoring support may be helpful.

Apply for support

Students can apply for tutoring or mentorship through the form below.

The information shared will help YMHC understand the student’s learning needs, strengths, interests, availability, accessibility needs, and the type of support that may be most helpful.

This information also helps YMHC match students with a tutor or mentor whose skills and experience are suited to the student’s needs.

For students under 18, parent or caregiver consent is required before tutoring begins.

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Need Help?

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FAQ

Important information about support and safety

YMHC Building Bridges provides tutoring and mentoring support.

The program does not replace emergency, crisis, medical, mental health, or school-based professional support.

If there is an immediate safety concern, please contact emergency services, a crisis line, a trusted adult, or local mental health support.

Our goal

To build bridges back to learning, connection, confidence, and educational opportunity for students.

Youth Mental Health Canada

Youth Mental Health Canada supports students, families, educators, and communities through inclusive, accessible, and compassionate approaches to youth mental health, education, and school attendance and engagement challenges.