Thank you to all of those that stopped by our table earlier this week at the Ministry of Education & Child Care's Mental Health in Schools Conference! It was wonderful to be present at such an important event alongside our Compassionate Systems Leadership team and the YDI team from SFU's CHART Lab.
Youth voice was a central theme at this years' conference. As self-report questionnaires, the MDI and YDI gather information from students about their mental health and well-being, as well as their lives in school, at home, and in the community, all from their own perspective. This month's newsletter contains information about the release of new MDI reports and resources, as well as upcoming YDI data collection.
MDI: New 2024-25 Reports and Resources Now Available!
Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) School District Reports for the 2024-25 school year are now accessible on our website! These reports offer a detailed overview of the MDI results for 35 school districts across BC, with over 40,000 children in grades 4 through 8 participating.
Additionally, new MDI resources for educators, including a new MDI Lesson Series, are now available on Discover MDI. Educators who submit feedback on the Lesson Series will be entered to win a pizza party for their class!
Dr. Randip Gill's research aims to uncover strategies that support healthier outcomes for vulnerable populations. His academic path, coupled with his family’s experiences in BC, shaped his dedication to understanding the intricate connections between poverty, immigration backgrounds, and children’s developmental outcomes. In his new role as Research Associate Methodologist at HELP, Gill continues to pave the way for meaningful research and impactful change in the lives of children and families in BC and beyond.
We’re excited to announce that the YDI is returning for the 2025–2026 school year, refreshed and ready for the next wave of meaningful data collection. The Youth Development Instrument (YDI) is a school-based, self-report survey for students in Grades 10–12. It is designed to capture what truly matters to young people — highlighting the resources, opportunities, and practices that support their well-being and positive development. Led by HELP affiliate faculty Dr. Hasina Samji and conducted by the Capturing Health and Resilience Trajectories (CHART) Lab at Simon Fraser University, the YDI gives students a direct voice in shaping the systems that serve them.
Looking for ways to help kids move more and scroll less? Check out the Movement/Outdoor Activity Guide from the California Partners Project. Part of the Tech/Life Balance series, this free, judgment-free resource offers easy tips to encourage movement, outdoor play, and real-world connection — without ditching screens altogether — and features HELP Director Dr. Mariana Brussoni's Outdoor Play Lab.
Have you checked out the new In the Media section on our website? See recent coverage of HELP studies and expert researchers on prominent media platforms including CBC, Global News, and NPR. Stay informed and see how HELP is making headlines!
The Human Early Learning Partnership is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People.
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Mental Health in Schools Conference Image: Dr. Eva Oberle, Kelly Wunderlich, Margareta Kurnotova All photos and illustrations, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of HELP,
purchased through istockphoto.com and stock.adobe.com, or from unsplash.com, pexels.com, rawpixel.com and undraw.co for the sole use of the Human Early Learning Partnership.
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