Spotlight on Mental Health Optimists support program to help families navigate children’s mental health
T
he Kids Mental Health Optimist Club of Canada and M.I.understanding (mental illness understanding) have been working together for the past five (5) years to increase awareness, understanding, and the importance of early intervention when it comes to children’s mental health. The website www. miunderstanding.ca creates a community of support for families across Southwestern Ontario. The website offers free videos, resources and easy-to-use tips and tricks for families to start the oftendifficult conversations about mental health.
Poppy, a bunny, is one of the characters that are part of the M.I. understanding lessons
28 • Optimist
Over the past year, the pandemic has caused a large spike in children’s mental health. Long wait lists for support and interruptions to school/community programs have left many families managing their children’s increased anxiety on their own. Recognizing this reality, M.I. understanding has created a program, developed with the assistance of the Faculty of Education at Western University and educational advisors with over 25 years of experience, to help children
and their families manage mental health worries and approach complex terrain in creative ways. This program begins with a comfort video featuring one of M.I.understanding’s notable characters, Poppy, accompanied by a stuffed toy version of the character, and activity pages and resources packed with strategies and tools designed for parents to help their children overcome overwhelming feelings. The high-quality plush toy (Poppy) acts as a physical tool to comfort children and support them throughout the exercises. The short videos from Poppy keep children calm and grounded, while coaching the rest of the family on action steps to take when big feelings start. Parents can also benefit from other resources with easy-to-implement strategies and suggestions as part of this program. With resiliency-building tools and resources at the front, this program becomes a gateway to working through worries and helping kids understand that big feelings and anxieties are all part of childhood.
