It’s reported that approximately 20% of Canadian children and youth will experience a mental illness.
This includes a significant percentage of children experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. The stats are staggering, and as primary caregivers, parents are struggling.
In Ontario:
o Half of Ontario parents report having concerns about their child’s level of anxiety.
o One-third of Ontario parents have had a child miss school due to anxiety
o One-quarter of Ontario parents have missed work to care for a child with anxiety. This is significantly higher among parents who have expressed concerns about their child’s anxiety
o Sixty-two percent of Ontario youth report ever having concerns about their level of anxiety; however, only three in ten (32%) have spoken to a mental health care professional about anxiety
o As many as one in five children and youth in Ontario will experience some form of mental health problem.
o Five out of six kids will not receive the treatment they need.
o Seventy percent of mental health problems begin during childhood or adolescence
o Seventeen percent of children ages 2-5 years meet the diagnostic criteria for mental health problems.
o Twenty-eight percent of students report not knowing where to turn when they wanted to talk to someone about mental health.
o Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world.
In recognition of Mental Health Week in May, the Ontario Caregiver Organization is excited to partner with Parents’ Lifeline (PLEO) to offer a free webinar offering strategies for supporting parents of children who face mental health challenges on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at noon ET, with a repeat session on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. The guest speaker will be Catherine Shea of PLEO, a dedicated caregiver who truly understands the challenges families face in supporting children and youth with mental health struggles.
Catherine Shea and/or Amy Coupal, CEO of The Ontario Caregiver Organization, are available for interviews to share vital tips on:
How to foster open conversations and build trust with your child
The power of asking questions instead of giving in to frustration
Practical strategies for problem-solving together with your child
Tips for taking care of yourself while supporting your child’s mental health
The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) supports Ontario’s 4 million caregivers- ordinary people who provide physical and emotional support to family members, partners, friends, or neighbours. For more information, planning tools and resources to support family caregivers, please visit the website at OntarioCaregiverOrganization.ca.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
