The Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and provincial school boards recognize a shared responsibility alongside families, schools and communities for the education, health and mental well-being of the province’s children and youth. To support student mental health and well-being, the ministries of Health and Education, as well as the SHA collaborated to implement the Mental Health Capacity Building program in Saskatchewan schools.
The Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) program is a collaboration between schools and communities to recognize and address barriers to well-being through evidence-based prevention and mental health promotion efforts and activities. The MHCB program is dedicated to the enhancement of protective factors and reduction of risk factors pertaining to the mental health and well-being of the students, families, caregivers, staff, and community members throughout Saskatchewan.
The MHCB program began as a pilot in 2019 with five participating schools. After demonstrating a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of the individuals in the participating school communities, the program was expanded in 2022 and 2024.
In the Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions: 2023-2028, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed to expanding MHCB to all 27 school divisions in the province by 2028.
To date, 15 schools across 14 school divisions in 11 Saskatchewan communities participate in the MHCB program. These include:
- Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School in Regina
- North Battleford Comp. High School
- John Paul II Collegiate in North Battleford
- Greenall High School in Balgonie
- Hector Thiboutot Comm. School in Sandy Bay
- Churchill Community High School in La Ronge
- Prince Albert Collegiate Institute
- St. John Community School in Prince Albert
- Weyburn Comprehensive High School in Weyburn
- Dr. Brass School in Yorkton
- Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw
- Lloydminster Composite High School in Lloydminster
- Carpenter High School in Meadow Lake
- St. Alphonsus School in Yorkton
- Balfour Collegiate in Regina
For more information, contact: populationhealth@saskhealthauthority.ca or visit Mental Health Capacity Building Research Project.