There has been recent attention paid to the mental health issues experienced by many children and youth in Canada and internationally. In particular, the role of the school and educational leaders in preventing mental health difficulties and intervening in the case of mental illnesses has been highlighted. This paper presents an overview of several policies, programs, and initiatives related to the prevention of and intervention for mental health difficulties in Canadian schools with a focus on the Ontario context. Following this, literature examining the role of educational leaders in meeting the mental health needs of students will be reviewed and recommendations put forward.