Canyons School District families can now sign up for free evening classes on anxiety, grief, anger management and other mental health topics. The Canyons Family Center at Mt. Jordan Middle School in Sandy opened sessions the week of Monday, Sept. 7, with classes held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Topics include emotional intelligence, navigating a parent's divorce, depression, self-esteem, anxiety and anger management, according to Fox 13. Parenting classes for families with a child dealing with anxiety or ADHD are also available. Every course is free.

New for the 2026–2027 school year is a course on internet safety for students and their families.

Classes are grouped by age. Susan Leete, a Canyons Family Center teacher and district counselor, leads emotional intelligence sessions for kindergartners through second graders. She said parents have told her the skills carry over at home.

"The parents will come back and tell us like 'You know what we had a big meltdown last night so we pulled out the paper from your class and we chose which coping skill to use and it really helped them regulate their emotions,'" Leete said.

The program comes as district data shows improvement in student mental health. Ellie Bechard, director of the Canyons Family Center, said students across the district are reporting less depression and suicidal ideation compared to two years ago.

A Canyons District news release published Aug. 27 cited the Student Health and Risk Prevention Survey, known as the SHARP Survey. The survey is administered every two years with parental permission to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. Results showed more students reported no symptoms of anxiety or depression, and reports of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts all declined.

Bechard said in the Aug. 27 release that the district's investments in student wellness are paying off. "The healthier our students are and the safer they feel, the better they're able to learn," she said.

Beyond classes, the Canyons Family Center provides individual counseling and student-support groups at no cost. A crisis counselor is available the second Wednesday of every month for immediate, confidential support, according to the district's Family Center page.

Families can register on the district's Family Center website.