Dilico Celebrates Children’s Mental Health Week 2008
NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday May 7, 2008
For Immediate Release
Thunder Bay, ON – Dilico Anishinabek Family Care (Dilico) is hosting a community celebration in honour of National Children’s Mental Health Week at its Day Treatment Centre located in the former Heath Park School, Thunder Bay, ON.“The main message we are trying to get across today is that mental health problems can happen to any young person just as easily as physical illness and that we’re here to help children build upon their strengths to get them through,” said Rose Pittis, Dilico’s Director of Mental Health & Addictions Services. “Today is about celebrating healthy minds, healthy kids and healthy communities.”
From 4 to 7 p.m. community youth, children and families are invited to attend the evening event that will include several fun activities such as a barbeque, graffiti art, petting zoo, and sports. The feature event, starting at 6 p.m., is a black light play about children’s mental health performed by Blacklight Theatre Productions. The whole family can also take advantage of a community clothing exchange offering gently used shoes and clothing for people of all ages and sizes.
“Today one in five children and youth struggle with their mental health,” said Pittis. “Those in attendance will also be provided with valuable information and resources on how to tell if a child or youth is struggling with their mental health, where and how to get help and where parents and families can access support.”
In Canada, rates of mental health issues such as suicide, depression and substance abuse are significantly higher in many Aboriginal communities than in the general population. The suicide rate for First Nations Youth (aged 15 to 24) is eight times higher than the national rate for females and five times higher than the national rate for males. Many of the mental health issues affecting Aboriginal communities stem from a long history of colonization, residential school trauma, discrimination and oppression and losses of land.
A member of Children’s Mental Health Ontario and accredited by the CCHSA, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care provides a range of responsive individual, family and community programs for the complete life journey of all Anishinabek people. Dilico’s Mental Health and Addictions branch provides strong support and treatment services, equitable access and responsive options for all Anishinabek children, adults, families and communities.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario is a non-profit, charitable organization that works to promote, support and strengthen a sustainable system of mental health services for children, youth and their families.
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For further information, contact:
Celeste Pedri,
Communications Manager
Dilico Anishinabek Family Care
Phone: 626-7970/629-3367
Children’s Mental Health Week 2008
Fact Sheet
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds (24% of all deaths.)
• One in five children and youth struggle with their mental health
• The suicide rate for First Nations Youth (aged 15 to 24) is eight times higher than the national rate for females and five times higher than the national rate for males.
• Colonization, marginalization and rapid cultural change have left many First Nations youth in the wake of foreign values and beliefs and deep conflicts about who they are.
• Mental disorders are the second highest source of direct health care costs (hospitals, physicians, medicines) in Canada.
• The average cost of treating children’s mental health problems in community-based agencies is less that $2,500 per child per year. The cost of a pediatric hospital bed is more than $2,500 per day.
• Hospitalization rates for suicide attempts by 15-19 year old Canadians are 73% above the average for all age groups.
• The average hospital stay per suicide attempt is 7.1 days.
• Canada has the third worst suicide rate in the world for 15-19 year olds.
• The cost to federal and Ontario governments of youth who drop out due to lack of mental health treatment is 1.9 billion per year.
• Poor grades and dropping out are strongly correlated to mental health problems.
• The average cost of youth detention is $120,000 per year.
• Up to 10% of the cost of crime in Ontario (approximately 300 million) can be attributed to inadequate mental health care for children and youth.
• When children with disorders are not effectively treated, they become more vulnerable and less resilient as they approach adulthood, which may result in adult mental ill-health, involvement with the law and homelessness.
• When community mental health services are under-funded, there may be an overuse of more expensive health services, inappropriate use of other services and tragedy.
