Children’s Mental Health Week is definitely a time to highlight the incredible work that goes on in the children’s mental health sector. Agencies such as Kinark have steadily moved toward consistent practice of evidenced-based treatments. They have an expanded and more meaningful role for parents and youth in improving agency work. There is focused work in engaging and serving marginalized communities.

But this special week is also an opportunity to continue to place pressure on policy makers to improve the way the system is structured and flow the funding that will support prevention and intervention activity that serves all children and youth. It is heartening that the issue is receiving so much public attention. But the recent article in the Toronto Star
reminds us that part of our work is to make mental health an election issue. We have the good fortune in Ontario to have two major election campaigns to get this message out. What role are you playing in that work?

Parents and youth are, of course, actively involved in this type of advocacy. They have to be. The stakes are high for those that live with the stigma, the lack of programs, the struggle that comes with mental illness. Parents and youth have stories that bring the statistics quoted to life. They can talk about isolation, shame, confusion and lost opportunities. They share their grief and anger and pain and ask the question – why is the help not available? why is the illness shunned and ignored?

As I said, two elections this year give us a chance to focus the minds of politicians and political candidates. Parents and youth are not losing this opportunity and there are two child and youth mental health campaigns under way. Take a Stand 
organized by those in the children’s mental health sector and Let’s Put Our Heads Together  
organized by the Ontario Public School Boards Association are examples of powerful and diverse organizations coming together to put this issue on the election agenda.

Parents and youth are very involved in supporting the efforts of these coalitions and their stories will help shape the public’s understanding of this issue and why it should be at the top of the election agenda. You can join this important work. Log on and join in by adding your voice to the thousands of citizens that are putting their heads together and taking a stand for children and youth. You can express your voice by raising the issue at all candidates meetings, by tweeting, by writing or posting to your local paper, by sharing on Facebook or by attending events.

Join parents and youth across Ontario in making sure that promises are made and kept by those that make it to power!