Blog
Celebrating Pride
Across the province, child and youth mental health service agencies are doing incredible work to support the LGBT2SQ+ community. Pride Month held in June is to celebrate diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. It is also a time to honour its history and progress made towards recognizing and protecting the rights of the LGBTQ2S+ communities. CMHO recognizes that we...
Honouring National Indigenous History Month
For National Indigenous History Month, Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) would like to acknowledge and celebrate the many Indigenous mental health service providers across Ontario who are doing incredible work in their communities to support Indigenous children and families. We would also like to acknowledge the child and youth mental health service agencies who have taken seriously the...
Lessons for Father’s Day
With Father’s Day this weekend, we want to take this time to thank dads across Ontario for their hard work and dedication. Recognizing that this day will surely look different because of the pandemic, we asked some of the dads in our community to share their experiences and recent lessons learned from parenting. Here’s what they had to say. Casey with his sons Do what works for your family....
Thinking of you this Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, I am thinking about the moms that do such an extraordinary job parenting a child or youth with mental health issues. You are on 24/7 and it is draining – and often, you get no thanks at all.
Messages of Support
During our recent Twitter Chat with parents and caregivers, we asked: What message of support and encouragement would you like to offer to other families who are having a really tough time? We received so many great responses and wanted to share them with you. We know these are challenging days, and we hope these messages from fellow parents across Ontario help. Don't be afraid to talk about...
Tips for Supporting your Family’s Mental Wellness
“....but I can’t do that!” With tears running down his face my son melts into the couch and I know things are too much for this moment but, I missed catching it before now….inside I am thinking, “HOW? I am a competent adult but HOW am I going to keep us all afloat?” With the ‘March break that never ends’ upon us, we are all dealing a little differently but, universally, Ontario parents are...
Expert Tips on Back to School Anxiety
For many families, the new school year is exciting. Parents are relieved at the prospect of a quieter house, kids are looking forward to more time with friends and some students may even be excited about their new classes. But for many kids, going back to school can create anxiety over peer relationships, a new school, different teachers and more. For many kids this is a mild anxiety that can be...
Join Us for Children’s Mental Health Week!
Recognizing Children's Mental Health Week Is More Important Than Ever Children’s Mental Health Week May 3 to May 9 Annually, Mental Health Week is acknowledged during the first week of May with an emphasis on children’s mental health. Local child and youth mental health agencies and Children’s Mental Health Ontario, which represents nearly 100 children and youth mental health centres across...
Kids With Mental Illness Going to Hospital Is on the Rise
In the coming weeks leading up to the release of the 2020 provincial budget by the Government of Ontario, Children's Mental Health Ontario's members, which provide the majority of publicly-provided child and youth mental health care in the province, and youth and family mental health advocates will be attending public meetings with Ontario government leaders and MPPs to urge them to increase...
Seven Tips for Supporting a Child or Teen With Anxiety
Written By Dr. Marjory Phillips As we transition from the relaxing days of summer into the busy fall schedule and back-to-school season, it is an important time to support children and youth who may be feeling uneasy or apprehensive. Anxiety is the most common childhood mental illness, with 62% of Ontario youth reporting having had concerns over their level of anxiety and ¼ of Ontario parents...