Asynchronous Academy

Mental Health

Suggested Duration: 3 Hours

"No one chooses mental illness, it chooses us. Sharing our stories saves lives."

Michael Landsberg, Canadian Mental Health Advocate & Founder of #SickNotWeak

Mental health is an essential part of your overall well-being, yet many people are unsure how to access help or what "going to therapy" actually looks like. In this module, you will investigate leading therapeutic models like CBT and DBT, hear from peers about their experiences with professional support, and learn how to identify and overcome the barriers to asking for help.

Youth Mental Health Resources

Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) provides a hub of resources specifically designed for teens. These tools are meant to help you make informed, positive choices during stressful times.

  • Explore: CMHO Youth Resources
  • Task: Investigate one or more of the resources on this page. Which one do you think is most relevant to students in our school?

Evidence-Based Treatments (DBT & CBT)

Not all therapy is the same. Two of the most common and effective treatments for issues like anxiety, depression, and compulsive behaviors are DBT and CBT.

The Therapy Experience

What actually happens behind the closed door of a therapist's office? Demystifying the process is a huge step toward reducing stigma.

Navigating Ontario’s Support System

Knowing that help exists is one thing; knowing how to find it is another. Ontario offers a range of services from free counseling to specialized crisis lines.

Personal Reflection Checklist

  • Treatment: I can explain the main goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
  • Stigma: I can identify two common reasons why it’s hard to ask for help and how to overcome them.
  • Resources: I know at least one website I can visit to find a local counselor in Ontario.
  • Support: I can name one way to support a friend who is considering therapy.

Mental Health Slide Deck Text

Task: Using what you have learned about mental illness, addiction, and support strategies, write out the text content and slide layout for an educational slide deck (written directly in a Markdown .md file) that addresses:

  1. Daily Impact: How mental health issues and compulsive behaviours can affect a person’s daily life and overall well-being.
  2. Treatment Comparison: The difference between evidence-based strategies like CBT and DBT.
  3. Support Strategies: Practical, respectful ways we can support people struggling with these illnesses.
  4. Resource Guide: A list of specific community and provincial resources where someone can get help today.
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Writing Tip: When writing slide deck text on sensitive topics like mental health and addiction, remember that the words you choose matter. Use person-first language (like "a person struggling with addiction" rather than "an addict") to promote respect and reduce stigma.

Deliverable:

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Mental Health Slide Deck Text

Submit your completed slide deck text as a Markdown (.md) file using the course app submission portal.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤

    Mental Health Slide Deck Text (.md file)

💡 A Different Way to Learn

Async Academy courses are inquiry-based. There are no rote answer keys or multiple-choice worksheets here. You learn by exploring, questioning, and building projects you care about.

Because your discovery path is completely unique, you need a human sounding board. Enroll to submit your projects and get personalized video feedback from an Ontario Certified Teacher to guide your work.

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Understand the characteristics of mental illness and addiction and their impact on health

  • 🎯

    Investigate evidence-based therapeutic models and the process of seeking professional help

  • 🎯

    Identify and map community and provincial mental health resources

Success Criteria

I can:

  • ✅

    Explain the differences between common mental health treatments like CBT and DBT

    Expectations Covered: C1
  • ✅

    Identify the signs of mental illness and addiction and how they affect overall well-being

    Expectations Covered: C1
  • ✅

    Develop a presentation that showcases ways to support individuals struggling with mental health issues

    Expectations Covered: C1
  • ✅

    List specific local and provincial resources for mental health and compulsive behavior support

    Expectations Covered: C3

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Understanding Therapeutic Models & Symptoms (Knowledge / Understanding)
How accurately does the student explain the differences between CBT and DBT, and identify the signs of mental illness and addiction?
 Explains therapeutic models and signs of illness with high accuracy and clear, correct details Explains therapeutic models and signs of illness with clear and appropriate details Explains some therapeutic models or signs with basic detail Explains therapeutic models with limited accuracy or clarity
Resource Mapping & Support Strategies (Thinking / Inquiry)
How effectively does the student map local/provincial resources and develop practical strategies to support others?
 Formulates exceptionally practical, realistic support strategies and maps relevant, local resources with high depth Formulates practical support strategies and maps relevant, local resources with clear detail Formulates basic support strategies or maps resources with simple details Formulates limited support strategies or maps resources with minimal detail
Presentation & Education Design (Communication)
How clearly, organized, and professionally is the educational presentation structured?
 Communicates ideas in the presentation with a high degree of clarity, professional organization, and a respectful tone Communicates ideas in the presentation clearly and with appropriate organization and tone Communicates ideas in the presentation with some clarity and organization Communicates ideas in the presentation with limited clarity or organization
Understanding Therapeutic Models & Symptoms (Knowledge / Understanding)
Criteria: How accurately does the student explain the differences between CBT and DBT, and identify the signs of mental illness and addiction?
Level 4

Explains therapeutic models and signs of illness with high accuracy and clear, correct details

Level 3

Explains therapeutic models and signs of illness with clear and appropriate details

Level 2

Explains some therapeutic models or signs with basic detail

Level 1

Explains therapeutic models with limited accuracy or clarity

Resource Mapping & Support Strategies (Thinking / Inquiry)
Criteria: How effectively does the student map local/provincial resources and develop practical strategies to support others?
Level 4

Formulates exceptionally practical, realistic support strategies and maps relevant, local resources with high depth

Level 3

Formulates practical support strategies and maps relevant, local resources with clear detail

Level 2

Formulates basic support strategies or maps resources with simple details

Level 1

Formulates limited support strategies or maps resources with minimal detail

Presentation & Education Design (Communication)
Criteria: How clearly, organized, and professionally is the educational presentation structured?
Level 4

Communicates ideas in the presentation with a high degree of clarity, professional organization, and a respectful tone

Level 3

Communicates ideas in the presentation clearly and with appropriate organization and tone

Level 2

Communicates ideas in the presentation with some clarity and organization

Level 1

Communicates ideas in the presentation with limited clarity or organization