Grades 9-12

High School Program

Open Parachute's high school program seeks to build a sense of connection within the school community to help overcome barriers for students to attend school. The aim is to build relationships and a climate of safety and respect so that students can thrive academically.

Try it free

Two high school students seated outdoors, focused and engaged in learning

Our diverse program offers a universal skill set through lessons, activities, strategies, and modelling, aimed at preparing students to become contributing members of society, no matter what their path.

Program Outcomes

An independent pre/post study found that Open Parachute significantly improved outcomes.

Increased Community/Belonging
Increase Attendance
Build Leadership Skills
Improve Independence
Create Connection

View our latest Evidence Base

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Classroom-Based Mental Health Literacy Program - Research Poster

See how Kelowna Secondary School makes Mental Health Easier to Talk About

Hear from teachers and students about how Open Parachute helps normalize conversations about mental health, build practical coping skills, and prepare students for life beyond high school.

High School Community-Building Program

The High School Community-Building Program takes a whole-school approach to mental health and well-being, seeking to embed classroom, teacher, and student-led initiatives that foster mental health and well-being in the classroom and the larger school community.

Self-acceptance

Embracing spontaneity & finding purpose

Open-mindedness

Readiness: leadership and freedom of choice

Program Features:

Student-led Initiatives

Option to use class time, could be used in clubs or leadership classes, engages the whole school community.

Teacher Modeling Series

Strategies to support educator & student connections.

Program Features illustration showing community, collaboration, planning, and building concepts

Flexible Activities & Strategies for in and out of the classroom

Grade-level specific content

Pre-prepared lessons, activities, strategies, and initiatives

Varied lesson types to include the entire school community

Translatable content for diverse language learners

Weave Mental Health Skills into every classroom

Trauma-informed, evidence-based content

Built by educators and clinical psychologists

Easy for any educator to deliver without any prep

Flexible for in or out of classroom time

Building community and collective well-being

Cross-curricular strategies

Being Well Matters: Empowering students to build healthy habits

Being Well Matters™ is designed to foster a deep understanding of the interrelationship between physical, mental, and social health, while equipping students with the practical knowledge and skills to enhance and sustain their overall well-being. Through a strengths-based and preventative approach, students will build capacity in both mental and physical wellness empowering them to identify and overcome barriers to healthy living.

Sleep

Nutrition

Emotional regulation

Stress management

Self-esteem

Resilience

Being Well Matters program educator guide materials

Explore different Lesson Types:

Each lesson type is designed for a different purpose. Find the best fit for your class!

Brain Breaks

5-15 min lessons to embed well-being into classroom routines.

Skill-Builders

5-20 min lessons that help students practice targeted mental health skills.

Positive Pathways

20-30 min lessons that teach practical well-being skills to maximize students' ability to focus and excel at school.

Student Voice

20-30 min lessons featuring videos of real peer-aged youth with lived experience, guiding students to learn universal mental health skills for overcoming challenges.

Classroom-Based Learning

Our program also features classroom lessons that build student skills in the following areas:

The Future

Anxiety

Personal Autonomy

Norms and Expectations

Relationships

Personal Struggles

For Youth, by Youth

Our core lessons feature videos of real peers with lived experience to guide your students through authentic narratives of growth and change. These peer stories help students grasp concepts quicker and practice skills faster, giving them more brain power for their academics.