Ring A Bell campaign promotes importance of resilience in mental health

Press Release

December 10, 2025

FREDERICTON  – The 15th annual Ring A Bell campaign takes place Dec. 8-12. The theme for the 2025 campaign, which is co-ordinated by Dots NB / Partners for Youth and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, is Cultivating Resilience.

“Resilience and mental health go hand in hand,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson. “Resilience helps us understand and navigate life’s challenges and changes, and it’s important we teach it to our children and youth from a young age. Building resilience does not mean removing obstacles from their lives, it means allowing them to fail and struggle as part of the learning process to become more independent.”

As part of the campaign, students in kindergarten through Grade 8 will learn about mental health and wellness by participating in various activities.

They will also receive resources and tools that are intended to help them during their most formative years.

Partners for Youth is encouraging schools to submit videos, poems or songs to show how they support mental wellness. The New Brunswick Youth Council will choose one submission from each school district and the chosen submissions will receive $200 to put towards mental health activities. More information on how to participate is available on the Partners for Youth website.

“This year’s theme of Cultivating Resilience speaks to the need for the government and the community to come together to support and engage children and youth who are struggling,” said John Sharpe, executive director of Partners for Youth. “As we collectively care for children and their families, offering timely support and ensuring those supports are specialized and long term is a key goal for all of us to strive for.”

Partners for Youth has also shared educational and informational resources for educators, youth, families and communities on its website. A full week of new lesson plans is available for teachers.

The provincial bell-ringing ceremony, which symbolizes breaking the silence around mental health, will take place Thursday, Dec. 11 at Chief Harold Sappier Elementary School in the Wolastoqey community of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation).

Providing students with meaningful learning and life experiences to support good physical and mental health is one of the goals set out in the government’s 10-year education plans.

People who need help can call the provincial Addiction and Mental Health Helpline at 1-866-355-5550 and explore more resources online.

Media Contact(s)

Diana Chávez, communications, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, diana.chavez2@gnb.ca.

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