Ontario Student Mental Health Support Act
Requires all Ontario public schools to employ at least one licensed mental health counsellor per 300 students and mandates mental health literacy curriculum from Grade 4 onward.
Drafted by Priya Nair
Full Text of Proposed Bill
Section 1: Counsellor Requirements
Every publicly funded school in Ontario shall employ no fewer than one licensed mental health counsellor for every 300 enrolled students.
Section 2: Curriculum
The Ministry of Education shall integrate mental health literacy into the standard curriculum beginning in Grade 4, covering stress management, emotional regulation, and help-seeking behaviours.
Supporting Arguments
70% of mental health problems emerge before age 18, yet the average wait time for youth mental health services in Ontario is 2.5 years. Early intervention reduces lifetime treatment costs by up to 40%.
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