Children’s Mental Health Week Is Just Around The Corner!

May 2 – 9, 2010

1 in 5 Ontario children and youth has a mental health problem – That’s about 500,000 kids. Disorders range from anxiety, depression and conduct disorder to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and bi-polar disorder. Left untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide.The good news is that help is available and treatment works!

Each year, Ontarians mark the first full week of May as Children’s Mental Health Week. This important week is about:

• increasing awareness of the signs of child and youth mental health problems
• decreasing stigma, and
• understanding that help is available and it works!

Previous Children’s Mental Health Weeks have been a huge success: Across the province,

• child and youth mental health centres hosted open houses, school yard walks, shopping mall kiosks, and informational workshops in support of child and youth mental health
• many towns and cities throughout Ontario issued a proclamation recognizing the first full week in May as Children’s Mental Health Week
• schools participated in stigma-reducing poster campaigns and Brave New Minds walks (PDF, 4 pages)
• radio and television shows interviewed child and youth mental health experts
• an advertising supplement appeared in the Saturday edition of the Toronto Star

There isn’t enough room on this page to describe the multitude of children’s mental health week activities that took place in previous years. If you’re keen to learn more, and get some fantastic ideas for how you can get involved in this year’s celebration of Children’s Mental Health Week, please click here (PDF, 88 pages).

So mark your calendars to recognize and celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week 2010: May 2 – 9.

Help make this a great week for all children, youth and their families!