As the school buses roll to a stop and notebooks slam shut, the quiet settling across Thames Valley District School Board schools masks a troubling reality. For many students, summer vacation isn’t simply about freedom and relaxation—it represents a critical gap in mental health support services that have become lifelines during the academic year.
“When school ends, the structured support system many students rely on suddenly disappears,” explains Melissa Phillips, Mental Health Lead for the Thames Valley District School Board. “We recognized years ago that summer shouldn’t mean students lose access to the mental health resources they need.”
Standing in the sunlit hallway of Clarke Road Secondary School, Phillips shows me the room where summer wellness programs will operate starting next week. Comfortable chairs form a circle, and calming artwork—created by students—decorates walls that would otherwise remain empty until September.
This summer, the TVDSB is expanding its warm-weather mental health initiatives with programs designed to bridge what mental health professionals often call “the summer service gap.” It’s a response to concerning trends identified in recent Canadian data, including the 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey which found that 43% of secondary school students reported moderate to serious psychological distress—a substantial increase from pre-pandemic levels.
The offerings range from one-on-one virtual counselling sessions to in-person group workshops focused on anxiety management, healthy relationships, and coping strategies. What makes these programs distinctive is their accessibility—they’re available to any student enrolled in the TVDSB, regardless of whether they accessed services during the school year.
When I visited the board’s mental health planning session in early June, the energy was palpable as staff prepared resource materials and training protocols for the summer programs. “This isn’t about crisis intervention,” clarifies Dr. James Thorpe, a consulting psychologist who helps design the board’s mental health framework. “Though we certainly provide that when needed. These summer programs focus on building resilience and maintaining connections when students might otherwise feel isolated.”
The initiative represents part of a broader recognition within Canadian education systems that mental health support can’t simply operate on a September-to-June schedule. According to Children’s Mental Health Ontario, demand for youth mental health services typically surges in late August and early September—suggesting that the summer months without support often lead to deterioration that manifests when school resumes.
“Think about a student who’s been seeing a guidance counsellor weekly for anxiety management,” says Sophia Martinez, a social worker who will staff one of the virtual support lines. “Suddenly, that trusted adult disappears for two months. We’re trying to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
The programs are particularly valuable for students from lower-income households, who may lack access to private mental health services that families with greater financial resources can afford during school breaks. Research from Statistics Canada indicates that children from lower-income households are less likely to receive mental health services despite experiencing similar or higher rates of mental health challenges.
At Harrison Mews Public School, which serves a diverse community in London’s east end, principal Kimberly Edwards has been actively promoting the summer services to families. “We’re sending information home in multiple languages, posting on our school’s social channels, and personally connecting with families we know might benefit,” she tells me during a morning bell dismissal, as students stream past us into the bright June day.
Edwards pauses to high-five a passing student before continuing, “The summer programs aren’t just for students in crisis. They’re for anyone who wants to maintain good mental health practices or who might struggle with the unstructured nature of summer break.”
The TVDSB’s summer mental health initiative includes:
Virtual drop-in counselling sessions available three days per week
Peer support groups for high school students
Parent workshops on supporting children’s mental wellness
Targeted programs for students transitioning to secondary school
Activity-based workshops that combine recreation with mental health skill-building
For Jamal, a Grade 11 student who requested I use only his first name, the summer services represent continuity in what has been a challenging year. “During school, I finally started talking to someone about stuff I’ve been dealing with for years,” he says. “Knowing I can still connect with support over the summer—that’s huge. I don’t have to worry about losing all the progress I’ve made.”
The TVDSB initiative aligns with recommendations from the Mental Health Commission of Canada, which emphasizes year-round accessibility to services for youth. Their framework for school mental health suggests that interruptions in care can undermine progress and contribute to more serious mental health concerns developing during unsupported periods.
Parents like Anita Wilson, whose daughter attends Grade 8 in the TVDSB, express relief at the summer offerings. “The transition to high school is already causing my daughter anxiety,” Wilson shares. “Having access to support programs specifically designed for that transition gives us both peace of mind.”
As Canada continues to grapple with what many health professionals describe as a youth mental health crisis, initiatives like the TVDSB’s summer programs represent important innovations in providing continuous care. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated mental health challenges among students, creating what Dr. Thorpe calls “a generation dealing with unprecedented stressors.”
While the summer programs can’t replace comprehensive mental health care, they represent an important acknowledgment that students’ wellbeing doesn’t follow the academic calendar. As the last bell rings and students scatter for summer break, the knowledge that support remains available might make all the difference for those who need it most.
Families seeking information about TVDSB’s summer mental health programs can find details on the board’s website or by contacting their school’s administration office before the end of term.
