THE FUTURE IS FRIGHTENING AND NOT SET UP FOR CHILDREN TO THRIVE

On Family Day, families were urged to press the government to protect our children and give them the mental health care that they need.

Kids are not okay. The pandemic caused extreme stress for our children. They’re getting sicker because they can’t get mental health care when they need it. On February 20, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), in partnership with BGC Canada and YMCA Canada, urged parents to tell the government that its work is not done.

In Canada, 3 in 4 children with a mental health issue can’t get the care they need. That’s because the care is either unavailable or isn’t covered by public health insurance. Further to this, more than half of young Canadians who sought mental health services said they weren’t easy to access, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

“Underfunding, patchwork services and people not knowing where to go are just some of the inequities that youth are experiencing when accessing care,” says Margaret Eaton, CMHA National CEO. “Our system forces children to get very sick before we give them mental health care. This is an irrational and cruel way to offer care.” Eaton goes on to say: “Children need upfront and ongoing care, and it must be covered by public health insurance and available at the community level, not just in hospitals and doctor offices.”

Adding to the current mental health crisis, our kids are worried about the compounding effects of climate change. A 2021 study by The Lancet revealed that more than 45% of children and youth said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning. Further to this, 75% said that they think the future is frightening while 83% said that they think adults have failed to take care of the planet.

“Canada is failing our children and youth. Our kids are in crisis and parents have nowhere to turn,” says Eaton. “It’s time we turn to the Prime Minister and demand that he Act for Mental Health to ensure community-based services and supports are properly funded and available to all Canadians free of charge, where they need them and when they need them. Our children, and everyone in Canada, deserve universal mental health care.”

“The BGC Canada National Youth Council recognizes that Canadian youth are feeling helpless and isolated. As the world continues to grapple with the psychosocial impact of the pandemic, it can be overwhelming to reach out for help. Canadian youth need help more now than ever.” – Valentina Shamoun, National Youth Council Member, BGC Canada.

“The link between mental health and overall well-being is clear. If we truly want Canada to be the healthiest country for children to grow up in, we need to approach access to mental health differently than we are today. We call on the Government to make this a priority and make it easier for families to get the mental health care they need for their children.” – Peter Dinsdale, President & CEO, YMCA Canada.

Toronto - February 17th, 2023

Source: http://cmha.ca

Our Mission

We are on a mission to raise $10,000 for CAMH (Centre For Addiction And Mental Health) and CADDAC (Centre For ADHD Awareness Canada). It is without a doubt that ADHD and mental health issues are common in our community and continue to be a contributing cause of death around the world.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a psychiatric teaching hospital located in Toronto and ten community locations throughout the province of Ontario. At CAMH, it’s their goal to provide hope and a path toward recovery from mental illness and substance use for anyone in need.

There are approximately 2 million individuals affected by ADHD in Canada. Individuals, families, and parents with children are left scrambling to cope, figuring out how and where to get support for their ADHD. As well, they are trying to figure out how to pay for expensive programs.

Our families have been directly affected by ADHD and Mental Health issues so in hopes that one day no one else will have to experience the angst of dealing with ADHD or any kind of addiction or depression, we have chosen to donate a portion of our professional fees to these charities. As well, when you refer a friend or family member to our team not only will they receive award-winning service, but they will also be contributing to these extremely worthy causes. Together we can help calm minds and ensure that everyone gets the support they need.

We encourage you to visit both of their websites at www.camh.ca and www.caddac.ca and check out the incredible work they are doing in our community and beyond!