BUILDING MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY WITHIN ONTARIO (CANADA) HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The primary research question which drove this analysis asked: What is Mental HealthLiteracy (MHL) and how is this accomplished in elementary schools in Ontario, given thenew directives within the 2019 Health and Physical Education curricular document? Utilizinga qualitative research mode, the understanding of MHL was investigated through asummative latent content analysis of the current Ontario provincial government positionsarising from the recent release of 2019, Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculardocument. The document of 320 pages is broad and somewhat deep instigating severalsecondary questions which asked: How should MHL be achieved in Health and PhysicalEducation? What level of MHL awareness should Ontario Physical Educators and studentsreach for at the elementary level? What are the existing MHL guidelines and orientationsimpacting Ontario teachers? To what extent are Ontario teachers urged via the new curriculato focus and emphasize MHL in schools. MHL is a priority in this era of pandemic andcritical to growth and development of teachers, students and the wider community accountingfor well-being or lack of therein.