Blog
Youth Perspective: How the Pandemic is Affecting Youth
This post was originally shared by The New Mentality. The start of a new school year can normally bring on a mix of different emotions – excitement, joy, and happiness, but also nervousness, discomfort, and stress. The pandemic drastically changed how the school year ended in the spring, and the return to school has been uncertain for the most part over the summer months. As we enter the final...
Back-to-School Worries for Parents
In a recent online survey conducted by Children’s Mental Health Ontario, 90% of parents indicated they are experiencing stress and worries about the start of the school year - 64% of whom indicated they are ‘extremely’ worried. The poll, created to get a sense of how parents were feeling about the start of the school year, was shared through Children’s Mental Health Ontario online networks and...
Survey for Parents of Children With Mental Health Needs
CMHO wants to hear from parents concerned about their children’s mental health. Take this five minute survey. For kids with mental health needs, going back to school can be hard at any time, but this year brings new uncertainties. Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) is looking to create resources and supports for children, youth and families with mental health needs to help support the...
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...