Program Information
The program begins with an Introduction to TAMI, which will be facilitated by a TAMI Coalition member to help set the stage for the program. Following that, there are 5 modules, which the classroom teacher delivers. Topic of modules include stigma, mental health and mental illness, stress management, self-esteem, and community resources among other information.
During the fourth module, a TAMI Coalition member will return to facilitate a session of presentations by people living with mental illness (TAMI Speakers). There will be an opportunity for students to ask questions. It is expected that school administrators and school board mental health support staff be invited to this session. If multiple classrooms within a school are participating in the TAMI program at the same time, all classes assemble together for the speaker session.
The TAMI program can fit into the Ontario Elementary Curriculum for Health and Physical Education, in the Healthy Living Strand. This program can also fit into the school curriculum where there are “teachable moments”. Examples include: English classes studying a novel in which a character may have a mental illness, art classes where there may be a study of an artist with a mental illness, etc.
Bringing TAMI to Your Class
Intermediate teachers are expected to participate in a training session prior to scheduling an in-class program. Training sessions are coordinated by the appropriate school board at the beginning of each school year. Contact your school board's TAMI reperesentitve (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more information on a training session in your school board.
Upon completing a training session, book the TAMI program in your school by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Once you have booked, you will be provided with a teacher’s manual and student workbooks to guide you through the program. The current version of the TAMI program has been vetted through the Durham TAMI Coalition comprised of mental health professionals from community organizations and school boards.
How to Prepare for TAMI
After booking the TAMI program, you will receive a confirmation email from the TAMI Coordinator which will confirm the dates and times the TAMI Facilitator(s) will be coming to provide the Introductory Session and Speaker Session at your school, as well as the names of the Facilitator(s) who will be coming on each day. In the confirmation email, the TAMI Coordinator will also send you a copy of the curriculum documents you will need to run the TAMI program.
Before the TAMI Facilitator comes to your classroom, please read your email and curriculum materials carefully to ensure you have all the materials required. You will need photocopies of the student workbook and handouts for each student as will be detailed in the confirmation email. Please review this How to Prepare for TAMI document for further information.