Wellstream for Schools
Responsive to current needs and systems opportunities, our team at Wellstream: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use is leading the pan-Canadian Transforming Substance Use Harm Prevention in Schools initiative.
This initiative leverages our interdisciplinary and intersectoral team’s extensive expertise in child and youth mental health and substance use, intervention design and implementation, and education systems change.
It is rooted in a novel partnership that spans the education and health sectors, youth voice organizations, and various levels of government.
The development of school-based substance use standards is a partnership between Wellstream for Schools, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA). The process of standards development is supported by the CSA Group and informed by the collective expertise of K-12 education, allied health professionals, scholars and youth across the country.
Housed within Wellstream-Bienamont: The Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use, at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Wellstream for Schools is dedicated to the mental health and substance use research and programming needs of the pan-Canadian K-12 school systems. Wellstream for Schools was co-founded by Dr. Emily Jenkins at UBC and Bunyaad Public Affairs.
Transforming Substance Use Harm Prevention in Schools initiative
Phase 1 Highlights
Transforming Substance Use Harm Prevention in Canadian Schools: An Examination of School Administrators’ Experiences and Perspectives
This report presents findings from a recent survey of Canadian kindergarten to 12th grade school administrators conducted as part of Wellstream’s Transforming Substance Use Harm Prevention in Schools initiative. The survey aimed to characterize current practices and identify needs related to substance use education and intervention in schools.
In The News
UBC News
Canadian school principals call for more support to deal with student substance use.
Feb 25, 2025 – Mornings with Simi
Principals report an increase in student substance use, often in complex situations, with limited access to external support services (article).
Survey on substance use in schools
Feb 26, 2025 – Global News
Results from our national survey of school administrators highlights the strain that student substance use puts on educators and school resources (video).
Canadian schools need new approach to address student substance use, says new report
Feb 27, 2025 – CBC News
One in five survey respondents report that they are spending six hours a week dealing with student substance use (article).
Why can’t schools manage substance use?
Feb 26, 2025 – Mornings with Simi
Substance use is taking up an increasing amount of school administrators’ time (podcast).