Student Mental Health and Well-Being

Student mental health and well-being

R;pple: An additional layer of digital support

HPEDSB is committed to promoting student mental health and well-being both in and outside of school.

As part of this commitment, HPEDSB has implemented R;pple, a free browser extension designed to provide immediate access to supportive messaging and crisis resources when someone searches for information related to suicide or self-harm.

When activated, R;pple briefly interrupts the search with a supportive message, encourages the individual to pause and take a breath, and provides access to crisis and support resources, including 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline and Kids Help Phone. After a brief pause, the individual can continue to the webpage they were attempting to access.

Protecting privacy

R;pple is not a monitoring or tracking tool.

  •  It does not notify the school or the board when it is activated.
  • It does not identify individual users.
  • It does not monitor browsing activity.
  • It does not replace existing mental health supports or professional judgment or established school procedures.  

R;pple is intended to provide immediate access to supportive messaging and crisis resources when someone searches for suicide or self-harm related content. 

HPEDSB continues to follow its established mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis response procedures. R;pple is one component of a broader approach to supporting student well-being. 

R;pple for families

Parents, caregivers, and community members can also install the R;pple browser extension free of charge on their personal devices.

By installing R;pple at home, families can provide an additional opportunity to access supportive messaging and crisis resources if someone searches for suicide or self-harm related content.

While no technology can prevent every crisis, R;pple offers a brief opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect with support resources when it may be needed most.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If there is an immediate risk to someone's safety, call 911.

Back to school support
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As we head back to school, we want to remind all students and families that support is available. You never have to navigate difficult situations alone.


If you are having a difficult time, feeling overwhelmed, worried about your own safety or concerned about a friend, please reach out to a caring adult. Talk to a parent, caregiver, family member, coach, elder or another trusted adult in your life.

Sometimes young people worry about getting a friend in trouble or breaking a promise, but when someone's well-being is involved, telling an adult is one of the most caring things you can do. You don't need to decide whether a situation is "serious enough" to get help—asking for help is a sign of strength.

There are caring adults ready to support you. If you need support, getting in touch is easy:

Immediate and crisis support

  • Emergency (Call 911): If you feel you could be in immediate danger or there is an immediate risk to someone else's safety, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital right away.

  • Non-emergency (988): Call or text 988 anytime for crisis support.

Professional counselling and therapy

  • Kids Help Phone: E-mental health services and professional counselling are available 24/7 across Canada.
    • Call: 1-800-668-6868
    • Text: Text CONNECT to 686868. If you identify as Indigenous, you can text FIRST NATIONS, INUIT, or METIS to be connected with a First Nations, Inuk or Métis crisis responder.
    • Online: Visit KidsHelpPhone.ca to chat online, access the Peer-to-Peer Community to connect with other youth, or try self-assessments, mindfulness exercises and games.
  • One Stop Talk: Free, confidential immediate mental health support with a registered therapist or clinician for kids and teens (under 18) living in Ontario. Start with a conversation, leave with a plan.
    • Hours: Monday to Friday, 12 PM-8 PM EST and Saturday, 12 PM-4 PM EST (Connect at least one hour before closing to ensure a session).
    • Connect: Call 1-855-416-8255 or connect online via a video or audio call.
    • Online: onestoptalk.ca

Please take care of yourselves and one another. Remember, help is available.