Stemming the Tide: Investing early in the mental health of Ontario’s 7-to 12-year-olds

Mental health issues presenting in the middle years (ages 7-12) are a growing concern across Canada and can continue into youth and adulthood. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened children’s mental health further exacerbating the issues. Despite the best efforts of those working in the mental health and addictions sector, children and their families continue to face many challenges such as: long wait times for services, service navigation issues, lack of integrated services, lack of culturally inclusive services. Given that child mental health wellness goes hand in hand with family wellness, we will share how these challenges impact children and their families during the middle years and beyond.

In this webinar, Nikki Summers, Manager of Knowledge Mobilization, Raissa Amany, a Youth Advisory Council Member and Vicki Cochrane, a Family Advisor with the Knowledge Institute for Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions will be highlighting their approach to developing the policy paper titled “Stemming the tide, investing early in the mental health of Ontario’s 7-to 12-year-olds”. They will also discuss the importance of implementing family-focused approaches to care and present evidence-based recommendations that can guide leaders in government and service delivery organizations in supporting the unique needs of children in the middle years and their families. We will also discuss opportunities for promoting and advancing the mental health and well-being of children ages 7– to 12-years old across sectors.

Learning Objectives

1. Learn why timely intervention in the middle years can make big difference in the lives of children 7- to- 12 years old.
2. Understand the strengths and challenges of Ontario’s child and youth mental health and additions sector.
3. Understand why family-focused approach to care is crucial to positive outcomes for the child experiencing mental health difficulties and their family members.
4. Understand the importance and impact of youth and family engagement in policymaking.
5. Gain knowledge of evidence-based recommendations to facilitate collaboration across sectors, inform a lifespan population health strategy and strengthen mental health supports for children ages 7 to 12.

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