Mental Health Week More Important than Ever for Families to Recognize
May 4, 2020 – Annually, Mental Health Week is acknowledged during the first week of May with an emphasis on children’s mental health. Local child and youth mental health centre, Associated Youth Services of Peel (AYSP) and Children’s Mental Health Ontario, which represents nearly 100 children and youth mental health centres across the province, remind families that we remain open to provide mental health services in our community.
Now more than ever, Ontario’s community mental health and addictions public providers, want families to consider their mental health and well-being during this unprecedented time of COVID-19. The pandemic has been challenging for all families. For families with children struggling with mental illness, it can be even more difficult and AYSP is here to help.
Understanding that most families are feeling some anxieties and concerns regarding the pandemic, it’s important to recognize when to seek help. For example, when a child or youth’s behaviour changes and their worries, low-mood, or irritability become so strong that it affects their day-to-day activities, it is important to reach out for help.
Signs to look for, that may indicate your child may need mental health support to help them manage anxiety, can include physical symptoms such as stomach aches, nausea, difficulties breathing, a faster heartbeat, muscle tension, sweatiness, shakiness, dizziness, and headaches. Anxiety can also affect a child’s behaviour by causing increased irritability, sleep challenges, or difficulties separating from parents.
If your child has shared with you that they are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, it is important to seek immediate help.
Mental health service providers are deemed an essential service and are as important as physical health. You can find help locally:
- Family Mental Health Programs
- Call 905-451-4655
- https://wheretostart.ca/
- Youth Mental Health Programs
- Call 905-890-5222
- https://www.aysp.ca/
- 24/7 crisis line
- Call: 416-410-8615
or at http://cmho.org/findhelp/. For adult family members, connexontario.ca can connect you to resources near you.
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