Mental Health Literacy As A Fundamental Part Of Teacher Preparation: A Canadian Perspective

School is increasingly looked to as a natural place within which to promote health and well-being for our young people. Those who lead and teach in our schools must have the knowledge, skills, supports, and resources with which to manage this obligation.In Canada each year, thousands of new teacher graduates take their place as leaders in the classroom, and many will go on to initiate innovative strategies and programs at the school and school district levels. Initial teacher education (ITE) provides teacher candidates with not only the knowledge and skills for their entry into practice, but in addition, they also gain the knowledge of a complex and integrated system within which they will practice.As the role of teachers expands to include supporting student mental health, mental health literacy is increasingly identified as a critical part of the ITE within a comprehensive school health framework. This chapter defines and operationalizes mental health literacy for educators as part of a comprehensive school health approach in bringing knowledge, abilities, and attitudes to the next generation of teachers.