It's a first for the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board.

The Board is incorporating mental health education into its curriculum.

Vice Chair Bev Eckensweiler says the new curriculum is geared towards Grade 9 and 10 students and will merge into their religion classes.

Through education, she hopes the new program will help remove some of the stigma attached to mental health issues.

Eckensweiler says a number of youths struggle with mental health issues -- from anxiety to depression -- but some are afraid to talk about it.

She hopes the new curriculum will shed some light on this sensitive topic.

Eckensweiler adds its important students struggling with mental health issues realize they are not alone, and that mental health problems are common and treatable.

Eckensweiler is confident the new curriculum will play a positive role in students lives.

The curriculum was created by staff within the Catholic Board --- they plan to write more curriculum for Grade 11 and 12 students in the near future.

The new Mental Health curriculum will begin for Grade 9 and 10 students in January.