Blog
Six Tips to Practise Self-care During Ramadan
For the next month, many Muslim families around the world will be observing the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is practised through a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and giving back to the community. Sadly, for many families this will be their second year observing this month in a pandemic. This will mean missing out on gatherings at the mosque for Taraweeh (evening prayers), community...
The Pandemic and Child and Youth Mental Health
As the pandemic continues to move through different phases, it’s a good time to check-in with yourself and your family. For many of us, this past year has been difficult. Many young people and their parents, as well as child and youth mental health experts, are concerned over the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of kids. Children's Mental Health Ontario has been tracking the emerging...
Black Mental Health Week
Black children and youth and their families continue to face barriers, both interculturally and systemically, when it comes to accessing trusted and responsive mental health services and care in Ontario. We also know that institutionally, wide-spread research on Black mental health is lacking, resulting in a system that is largely unresponsive to the lived experiences of Black children, youth...
A Return to School for All Children and Youth
Children’s Mental Health Ontario is a strong advocate of the return to school for children because we believe that in-class learning is key to children’s development and mental health. We believe that schools should be the last to close and the first to open because long-term school closures can harm the mental health and development of children. We are encouraged to see that all schools across...
Bell Let’s Talk 2020: Children’s Mental Health Ontario Sounds the Alarm
Bell Let’s Talk 2020: Children’s Mental Health Ontario Sounds the Alarm. Today, for Bell Let’s Talk, Children’s Mental Health Ontario is sounding the alarm about the impact the pandemic is having on the mental health of children, youth, and families. We don’t want to keep talking; we need to see change. The mental health crisis our children, youth, and families are facing in Ontario is dire....
Tips to Support Your Child’s Mental Health Through Remote Learning
This post was created in consultation with CMHO child and youth mental health professionals Michelle Boulanger, of Dufferin Child & Family Services and Nicole D'Souza and David Cho of Lumenus. With the provincial lockdown and many schools still closed, we know that many families are facing new challenges around online learning. Remote learning doesn’t work well for every child and it can be...
State of Emergency, CEO Update
The Province has declared a second State of Emergency in Ontario. The number of Covid-19 cases in our communities is high and the reopening of schools has been further delayed. Many families will be struggling to make it all work. A lot of us will be trying to find answers to the tough questions: If remote learning negatively impacted my child’s mental health before, what will happen this...
Winter Break Activities for Mental Health
With limited activities and social visits available for kids across the province right now, it’s no wonder we are hearing from a lot of parents concerned about keeping the kids busy over the school winter break. This was a question that came up several times in our recent live chat with child and youth mental health workers. As if this time of year isn’t hard enough already! To help you prepare...
Live Chat with Child and Youth Mental Health Professionals by CMHO
Just in time for the holidays: New Webinar with Children’s Mental Health Ontario With the holidays and the long days of winter approaching in the middle of the ongoing pandemic, we know that many families are struggling with mental health issues. That’s why we have asked two of our child and youth mental health experts to join us for a live chat. If you have questions or are looking for helpful...
New Survey Launched by Youth Action Committee
This blog originally appeared on The New Mentality website. The New Mentality and Children’s Mental Health Ontario’s provincial Youth Action Committee (YAC) that works to identify major issues youth experiencing mental illness are currently facing in Ontario and generates youth-led policy recommendations who are responsible for change will be focusing on Race in the Mental Health System for...