Here we are....another New Year....another list of resolutions.  This New Year a very dear friend of mine suggested that we document what our resolutions are so that we can review them, remind ourselves what they were, and hopefully help stay on track.  Of course this friend is much more creative than I as I thought we would just list them, but oh no, we scrapbooked them!!!  We ended up with little booklets of magazine pictures cut out, inspirational sayings, and a lot of time and effort being put into documenting what we want to accomplish this year.  Some might think that odd, and a complete waste of time.  But - I suppose the theory is if you are committing that type of time, energy and effort into just documenting your hopes, should you not at the very least put that much time, energy and effort into achieving them.  Plus, the reminder of what you hoped to accomplish is constantly there. I loved the idea, and I am so glad I did it.  It did begin me thinking though, and as most of my thoughts do, I started to think about how this could relate or help our children and youth suffering from mental illness. This blog is a result of those thoughts.

2011 - a year of change, an election year, another budget, and hopefully a commitment from our Government to finally address children's mental health.  We are going to demand our Government be accountable and seek to have this issue as an election topic.  Leading up to this point, the Government has indicated that Children's Mental Health is indeed a priority (or at the very least becoming one).  We have heard many discussions, seen many reports, and been promised (well....as much as politicians promise) change.  There seems to be a Commitment to Change....in essence - their New Year's Resolution.  They too documented their wishes (only not quite as craftily as my girlfriend and I did!) Their wishes have been documented in the Select Committee Report, The 10-year Plan from the Ministry of Health, and many other reports as well.  So thus far we are all on the same track right?  We have wishes and things we want to accomplish, we have documented them, and now we do!

We (the public) are going to be the ones the Government is accountable to in ensuring their resolutions are met - so we (the public) should be accountable for ensuring our resolutions are met.  I don't know about you - but each year when I make a resolution I am all eager for a month or so and then life gets in the way, I allow myself to make multiple excuses and by the following New Year's Eve I am making the resolution - ok THIS year, THIS is the year I see it through.  So I am proposing this....2011 Commit to Change Campaign - where we hold the Government accountable to change, and we ourselves  accountable to change. 

How it will work:

• Anyone who wants to be part of our Campaign will donate $20 to Parents for Children's Mental Health (indicate Change Campaign on donation)

• Everyone who donates will think about one resolution they want to stick to and be accountable for (lose weight, become more active, spend more time with family, spend more time cleaning the house, spend less time cleaning the house) whatever your resolution is that you want to see through to the end

• Once enrolled we will send out information on how you will submit progress reports and updates 

• Regular prizes will be given out to those who are accomplishing much 

• All our progress and accomplishments will be shared in our newsletter, so that others can follow and be inspired by us too

• The proceeds from the campaign will go directly into PCMH Advocacy work ensuring that we are holding the Government accountable to achieving their resolution as well

In the end - All of us who have committed to change have succeeded! 

If you would like more details about the campaign, please email
admin@pcmh.ca - Subject Line - Commit to Change.

Here is one of my favourite quotes and I hope it inspires all to Commit to this Change Campaign:

‘If an individual sets an achievable goal and never gives up, they will either achieve that goal or die trying; If a civilization sets an achievable and never gives up, they will achieve that goal!’- Mathew Keith Groves

Together, we can make a difference, and see to it that our children and youth with mental illness suffer no more!  What are you going to do with this challenge?