Creating A Positive Feedback Loop: Supporting Student Mental Health in Ontario’s Christian Schools

Abstract

This study examined the development of student mental health service provision by independent Christian schools in Ontario, Canada. Key informant interviews led to the development of three major themes—(i) Culture of Caring: A Christian principle in action, (ii) Equifinality: multiple pathways to the same destination, and (iii) Normalizing Counselling: the creation of a positive feedback loop that was divided into five integrated stages. Three counselling models emerged to address students’ psychosocial and emotional challenges. These programs were viewed as an extension of Christian ministry, holistically providing care within the school system not originally structured to meet such needs