We’re teaming up with education leaders and students across Ontario to make a positive impact on the mental health crisis amongst youth.   

Ready to ‘Press Start’ on a brighter tomorrow?  

Brought to you by Teachers Life and OTIP, the new Press Start CoLab High School Program is a seven-week innovation accelerator that brings high school students and education leaders together to create a new social enterprise idea that addresses the mental health crisis among Canadian youth.  

Throughout the seven-week program, starting in the fall of 2024, student groups and education leaders will have access to entrepreneurial tools, resources, and mentors who will lead them through the ideation process in a safe and supportive space. Students will receive guidance from experts and program mentors to help transform their ideas into real-life solutions, including a virtual Challenge Session that will inspire and embolden their thinking with keynote speaker, Anthony McLean.   

By the end of the program, participant groups will walk away with a newly conceived social enterprise idea and a chance to access a total grant pool of $25,000. Solutions will address at least one of the three sub-focus areas within the topic of mental health:   

• De-Stigmatizing Mental Health   
• Building Confidence and Self-Image   
• Creating Safe Spaces for Connectedness   

Ontario high school student groups of 2-5 people led by a member of the educational community (e.g. Teacher or Education Worker at the school) can sign up for the program.   

If you are passionate about mental health and know a group of students who would be interested in developing and implementing an innovative social enterprise idea into your school or community, we encourage you to apply in the Fall of 2024!   

Applications will open September 3 and close September 27, 2024. Start thinking about your group today!   

Please note this program is offered in English. 

Questions? Email newsletter@otip.com with the subject line: Press Start CoLab.