# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
RESOURCES, RELIEF & RESULTS
Our mission is to reduce the barrier of anxiety so you can live the life you want. We offer trusted resources and programs to help people better understand and manage anxiety-and find the relief they need.

01

Feature page

MindShift® CBT App

02

Feature page

MindShift Group Therapy: APPLY NOW

03

Feature page

Monthly Giving

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Anxiety Canada provides self-help resources, programs and services for children, youth, adults and educators on anxiety.

# data[].attributes.body
Universal newborn screening is completed at the birthing hospital which tests for nerve-related hearing loss (sensori-neural).

Hearing testing when older than 2 years can assess for both conductive and sensori-neural hearing loss.  This testing is recommended when:

1.   speech delays are present or child has no speech

2.   child experiences recurrent ear infections

3.   parental concerns regarding hearing,

4.   failed school hearing screen,

5.   family history of hearing loss

Some syndromes and newborn-related events also require hearing screening. The Pediatrician will provide advice about these situations at your appointment.

# data[].attributes.body
If you have a concern about your child's hearing, please arrange for a hearing assessment. You do not require a physician referral.  When scheduling an appointment with a hearing centre, please describe your child’s age and ability to respond to questions to ensure the clinic has the appropriate tools to assess your child.  Hearing clinics in our region include:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Preschool Speech and Infant Hearing - Northwestern Health Unit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We offer a wide range of services to help you and your family to develop and maintain healthy speech and hearing through the early stages of life. Northwestern Health Unit is the lead agency for the Ontario Infant Hearing Program in the Kenora Rainy River District. This program provides services […]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Boreal Audiology & Hearing Services is your locally owned and operated hearing clinic for Dryden and area.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Frequency Hearing Centre - Fort Frances, ON

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Frequency Hearing Centre is a full service audiology clinic providing Fort Frances and the surrounding Rainy River district comprehensive hearing examinations, assistive listening device sales and repair, medical referrals for clients of all ages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Providing You with Convenient and Accessible Hearing Health Care at Home or at the former CHS location.

Providing You with Convenient and Accessible Hearing Health Care at Home or at Our Main St. South Location.

136 Main St. South Lower Level Kenora

136 Bernier Drive

Wheel Chair Accessible

Authorized vendor for ADP, WSIB, ODSP, NIHB- Express Scipts, VAC Medavie Blue Cross &

WCB (MB,SK,AB & BC)

Book an appointment now!

Testimonials

"I've been dealing with Loris for almost 30 years. She's a local and she's professional ."

"They look after my hearing, but every now and then I come in to chit chat about this and that, mostly fishing or hunting. They're my friends. "

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Providing You with Convenient and Accessible Hearing Health Care at Home or at the former CHS location. Providing You with Convenient and Accessible Hearing Health Care at Home or at Our Main St. South Location. 136 Main St. South Lower Level Kenora 136 Bernier Drive Wheel Chair Accessible Book an appointment now!

# data[].attributes.headline
Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

# data[].attributes.subject
Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

# data[].attributes.headline
How to find a registered Audiologist in your area

# data[].attributes.subject
How to find a registered Audiologist in your area

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Anyone who uses the title 'Audiologist' or 'Speech-Language Pathologist' must be registered with the College. You can search here to find out if someone is registered and if there are any restrictions on their practice. You can also find out where they practise, ages they treat, languages they speak, and more.Read more
'About the Public Register'

Search by Name or Registration Number

Enter a Registrant's name or their Registration Number and Click Search.
Search
Can your Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist practice in Ontario?
Find a Speech-Language Pathologist who speaks your language.
Find an Audiologist near you

Advanced Search

Enter your search criteria below and click Search. * indicates a required value.

Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist? *

Language Spoken

Search

Other Information

Professional Corporations Registrants by Organization

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Anyone who uses the title 'Audiologist' or 'Speech-Language Pathologist' must be registered with the College. You can search here to find out if someone is registered and if there are any restrictions on their practice.

# data[].attributes.body
Auditory Processing Specialist - a fee for service provider in Winnipeg.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
ABC Children's Audiology and Hearing Services (Ears for Life Inc)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Doctor of Audiology

Hi! I am Arden Brown, Registered Audiologist, Doctor of Audiology and I have been practicing since 1998. I specialized in Auditory Processing Testing and Auditory Training Therapy. In my 25 years as an audiologist, I have practiced as an audiologist to neurotologist who specialized in dizziness, as a provincial audiologist, as a private practice audiologist, and most recently as an educational audiologist within First Nation Communities.

Auditory Processing Specialist

Back in 2005, I was a provincial audiologist and would receive requests for auditory processing assessments from across Manitoba and Ontario. However, I could not asses most due to the fact they were out of my provincial catchment. That is why I opened ABC Children's Audiology and Hearing Services to fill a gapping need in the province.

ABC Children's Audiology and Hearing Services

Over the years, I have assessed children and adults from all over Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and internationally. The practice eventually evolved into providing Auditory Training Therapy. Auditory Training Therapy can help improve the quality of children and adults lives. Auditory Training is not just for those diagnosed with an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD previously known as CAPD), it can also be beneficial for those with a permanent hearing loss with and without hearing aids.

ABC Children's Audiology still remains the only private practice in Manitoba to assess Auditory Processing abilities and the only option for Auditory Training Therapy.

Diagnostic Hearing Tests for Children

The waiting list for hearing assessments can be lengthy through a few of the provincial audiology programs. Many parents decide to seek a hearing test privately but it can be difficult to find an audiologist in private practice willing or able to assess a small child. Many times it is due to equipment constraints. ABC Children's Audiology specializes in children and will assess younger then any private practice audiologist in the province.

Diagnostic Hearing Tests for Adults

ABC Children's Audiology also tests adults hearing. If you have had your hearing tested and you were told it was "normal" but you still struggle, you may have a functional hearing loss. An assessment at ABC Children's Audiology will differ from most hearing tests and investigate your concerns in a more in-depth manner.

If a medical specialist has requested a hearing test prior to an appointment, contact ABC Children's Audiology to set up an appointment.

First Nations Children

If you or your child is 17 years old and younger and identifies as First Nation with a Treaty Number or one parent with a Treaty Number, ABC Children's Audiology may be able to get our services covered through Jordan's Principle. Please contact for further details.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
ABC Children's Audiology and Hearing Services

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ABC Children's Audiology and Hearing Services (Ears for Life Inc)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hearing For All Ages Auditory Processing Specialist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
About The Program
Available to children in Junior or Senior Kindergarten!
Starting July 1 st, 2022, the Eye See...Eye Learn® program is available to children born in 2017 and 2018 that are in any junior or senior kindergarten program. To participate in the program the eye exam must be with a participating optometrist.

Eye exams for children ages 0 - 19 are covered by OHIP annually.

If required, Eye See...Eye Learn® will provide one pair of glasses per child courtesy of our participating optometrists and corporate partners Essilor Vision Foundation Canada and Modern Optical Canada. The frames are fashionable and are made with high quality and impact resistant polycarbonate lenses. The estimated value of the glasses is over $300.

For more information, send an email to: esel@optom.on.ca.
Eye See...Eye Learn program begins July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, all children born in 2017 or 2018 are eligible.
If you would like to learn more about the program, you can download the flyer in either English or French by clicking on the corresponding button.
2023-24 School Year - Eye See...Eye Learn program begins July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, all children born in 2018 or 2019 are eligible.
If you would like to learn more about the program, you can download the flyer in either English or French by clicking on the corresponding button.
English French
Find a Participating Optometrist

Use our Find an Eye Doctor tool to find a participating optometrist* near you.
*Participating optometrists will have a note beside their name saying "Eye See...Eye Learn doctor".
Frequently Asked Questions

Is information available in other languages?

Yes. Please click on the desired langauge below to download information in that language.

Does my child need an eye exam?

Each year, thousands of children start school without ever having an eye exam. Parent often believe that their child will let them know that they cannot see well, but children are rarely able to tell that they have poor vision because they have nothing to compare it to. That's why we recommend that all children have their first eye exam at 6 months old, again at 2-3 years old, and every year after that. In Ontario, yearly eye exams for children are covered by OHIP until they turn 20 years old.

Why are eye exams for children important?

Comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist are the only way to tell if your child's eye are developing properly. Many eye health problems can be treated if they are caught early. For example, a lazy eye can be completely corrected if it is detected and treated early.

Eye exams also make sure your child is able to learn. Children who cannot see the board, focus on a picture or follow words in a book may struggle to achieve their full learning potential. Vision problems can also impact their hand-eye coordination for physical activities and even impact their social development. Almost three-quarters of Ontario's parents are unaware that vision problems can cause speech difficulties, nearly two-third are unaware that they can lead to developmental delays and half of parents do not realize that a vision problem may be the cause of short attention spans in children.

Undetected and untreated vision problems often cause reading difficulties, and can cause the same signs and symptoms that are commonly attributed to issues such as ADHD, dyslexia and speech problems.

Comprehensive eye exams vs. vision screening

Vision screenings are not a substitute for a comprehensive eye health exam. A vision screening does not assess the entire visual system, including the health of a child's eyes, so many vision problems can be missed.

Many children participate in vision screening or sight test programs at school, which some parents confuse with a comprehensive eye exam. These tests are limited and cannot be used to diagnose a vision or eye health problem. Studies have shown that vision screening tests have high error rates. Forty-three per cent of children with an eye health problem are able to pass a vision screening.

Eye exams performed by optometrists look at the structural development of the eye and identify any underlying health conditions. Retinoblastoma is the most common type of eye cancer in children, accounting for approximately three per cent of all cancers that occur in children younger than 15 years of age. The disease may show signs as early as six to nine months old. Optometrists also play a role in monitoring children with diabetes, one of the most common chronic diseases among children and youth in Canada. Optometrists look for telltale signs of diabetic retinopathy, which damages the small blood vessels in the retina.

Does my child have a vision problem?

There is only one way to tell if your child has good eye health and vision: by having a yearly comprehensive eye exam. Between eye exams, there are signs and symptoms that you can look for. If you notice any of these symptoms, book an eye exam right away to make sure your child's eye health and vision are taken care of.

Download our checklist in ENGLISH or FRENCH
Signs and symptoms: Does your child have an unusual eye appearance?

One eye that looks turned in or out?

Bumps, styes, redness, swelling or crusting of eyelids?

Drooping eyelid?

Haziness or whitish appearance inside the pupil?

Frequently watery eyes?

Does your child behave in a way that could suggest a vision problem?

Does not watch or follow an object?

Touches things to help recognize them?

Does not make eye contact?

Closes or covers one eye?

Squints or frowns when looking far or near?

Rubs or touches the eyes a lot?

Blinks more than usual?

Reacts strongly to light?

Turns or tilts head when viewing objects?

Holds objects very close to face?

Dislikes near tasks?

Loses interest quickly or becomes irritable with visual activities?

Has poor depth perception or trouble seeing 3D?

Trips, falls or bumps into things often?

Is uncoordinated for play activities and sports?

Does your child have difficulties with learning?

Has poor posture when reading/writing?

Has poor handwriting?

Moves head, loses place, skips lines when reading?

Uses more effort than normal to complete school work?

Works hard but is not achieving the expected level at school?

Is your child at risk for vision problems?

Does a family member have a turned or lazy or blind eye?

Does a family member have glasses with high power?

Has any family member had early childhood cataracts or glaucoma?

Were there complications with the pregnancy or delivery?

Was your child premature at birth?

Does your child have a hearing loss?

Does your child have a health condition that can affect eyes, such as:

Juvenile arthritis

Cerebral Palsy

Down syndrome

Autism

Attention deficit disorder (ADHD)

Developmental delay

Our Partners

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Eye See...Eye Learn® Program - Ontario Association of Optometrists

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Eye See...Eye Learn® program is available to children born in 2015 that are in any junior kindergarten program.

# data[].attributes.body
Visual Milestones Overview for reading development

# data[].attributes.headline
FIREFLY offers High Intensity Kids - Virtual Parent Group

# data[].attributes.subject
FIREFLY offers High Intensity Kids - Virtual Parent Group

# data[].attributes.body
High Intensity Kids is a new virtual parent group for caregivers and parents of children ages 0-17 who are usually intense, deeply feeling, often spirited, and sometimes challenging. Over the course of four evenings you will connect with other caregivers who can relate to your experiences, learn about what makes these kids ‘tick’, and explore some effective (and realistic) caregiving strategies that are tailored to their unique needs. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, turning your camera on and speaking is not mandatory. Stay up-to-date on registration and session dates by following FIREFLY's social media platforms.

# data[].attributes.body
Video created by NAN about autism. Translated into Cree and Ojibway.

# data[].attributes.body
Autism Ontario

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Autism Ontario is the province's leading source of information and referral on autism and one of the largest collective voices representing the autism community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Twitter Facebook Sharing The Spectrum, Newsletter Subscribe To Our Newsletter Today! AC Connects, Newsletter Subscribe To Our Newsletter Today! Screening Tools Screening tools are designed to help identify children who might have developmental delays. Screening tools do not provide conclusive evidence of developmental delays and do not result in diagnoses.

# data[].attributes.headline
Information for parents from Canada's Pediatricians

# data[].attributes.subject
Information for parents from Canada's Pediatricians

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a condition that runs in families. ADHD can affect behaviour so much that functioning on a daily basis becomes difficult.

Children and teens with ADHD:

have trouble paying attention,

have trouble finishing their work,

are impulsive and may act without thinking,

have trouble following directions,

have trouble managing their emotions,

struggle with transitions or changes, and

are easily distracted.

While specific symptoms differ from child to child, ADHD can lead to problems in school, with relationships (friends, family members), and with self-esteem.

How can ADHD be treated?

With treatment, children with ADHD are better able to live with and manage their symptoms. Treating ADHD can include:

education and skills training for parents, children and youth,

strategies for understanding and building your child's social skills,

classroom management strategies and study skills, and

medication.

The most common medications used to treat ADHD are called stimulants. They are effective and can be used safely.

How do doctors make decisions about which therapies to recommend?

Doctors read and review scientific studies regularly. Studies published in medical journals have to meet certain standards before doctors use them to make decisions. Doctors also attend regular professional education seminars to learn more about treatments and how well they work.

Are there other ways to treat ADHD?

Ads in magazines, on the Internet or on television often promote other therapies that claim to treat ADHD. Some ads even claim that the product or treatment (non-prescription therapies) is safer or works better than medications prescribed by doctors.

The problem is that, in most cases, alternative therapies have not had the same kind of scientific review or testing as prescription medicine for ADHD. The studies of these therapies don't meet the same standards, so there is no guarantee that they are safer than or work as well as medications.

Scientific evidence on alternative therapies suggests that parents should be careful and well informed before they try such treatments. Many can cause side effects, and some can be dangerous. Talk with your doctor before trying any alternative approaches for your child's ADHD.

What do we know about other interventions for ADHD?

Here's what we know about alternatives to medications.
Interventions that may be helpful:

Healthy diet: Children need regular meals and a balanced diet. This provides good nutrition without any special supplements needed. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can affect attention. Start your child's day with a healthy breakfast.

Exercise: Exercise improves attention and mood. Children with ADHD benefit from movement breaks at school and from consistent daily exercise.

Sleep: Poor quality sleep or not enough sleep can affect attention and cause irritability and moodiness. Review your child's sleep habits with your doctor to optimize sleep.

Less screen time: Avoid using screens for at least 1 hour before bedtime and keep all screens out of your child's bedroom. They interfere with sleep, and poor sleep affects attention.

Interventions with no evidence to show they help:

Special diets may help a small group of children who have allergies, food sensitivities or who suffer from migraine headaches. However, there is little evidence that a diet without sugar or additives helps attention. If you want to try changing your child's diet, discuss it with your doctor to make sure it's the right choice. Your doctor will also monitor to see if the new diet is working.

Vitamin supplements: Most children eating a healthy balanced North American diet - including children with ADHD - will not need any vitamin or mineral supplements. However, some children with very limited food choices may develop low levels of certain nutrients, especially iron. Talk to your doctor. They will take a diet history and may do blood testing before deciding if any supplements are right for your child.

Herbs can be calming, but none have been proven to help with the main symptoms of ADHD. Because herbal products are not regulated, manufacturers don't have to follow specific rules about product safety. Ask your pharmacist about purity (how strong it is), safety, and toxicity (whether it can cause harm).

Biofeedback claims to help people control their own responses. It involves a big commitment from the whole family and is very expensive. Despite over 20 years of research (usually involving very small groups of children), results are still not clear. It is still considered an experimental treatment.

Other treatments with no proof they work for ADHD symptoms:

Antioxidants

Chiropractic therapy

Hypnotherapy/hypnosis

Homeopathy (combinations of plant, animal or mineral extracts as remedies)

Vision therapy, oculo-vestibular treatment, sound training

Some of these unproven therapies are expensive and possibly harmful. Your time and money are better spent on supporting your child in ways proven to be helpful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a condition that runs in families. ADHD can affect behaviour so much that functioning on a daily basis becomes difficult.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
CADDRA is an independent, not-for-profit, resource organization for medical, healthcare and research professionals with an interest in the field of ADHD. However, we do not have any health professionals on staff to diagnose or to answer questions. If you are seeking these services, please consult your healthcare professional.

Membership is open to healthcare and research professionals in the field of ADHD. Members join a network of Canadian and international practitioners
Join now

The Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines are available online. They can be downloaded in full without cost or as individual chapters and toolkit
Download

Medical and health care professionals can enhance their knowledge of ADHD by attending the Annual ADHD Conference, Research Day and ADHD Institute
Learn more

Membership Benefits for Professionals

The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. By accessing and using the website, you are indicating your acceptance to be bound by the terms and conditions of the user agreement as stated in full.

The website is hand-crafted in ZippyHippo online marketing studio.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CADDRA | The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CADDRA is an independent, not-for-profit, resource organization for medical, healthcare and research professionals with an interest in the field of ADHD. However, we do not have any health professionals on staff to diagnose or to answer questions. If you are seeking these services, please consult your healthcare professional.

# data[].attributes.headline
Young Minds - fighting for young people's mental health

# data[].attributes.subject
Young Minds - fighting for young people's mental health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, fear or unease. It is often experienced as a combination of thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in our body.

All children and young people feel worried sometimes. This is a normal, human reaction to things that feel stressful. For example, before an exam a young person may feel more worried than usual. But they will soon feel calmer after the stressful event has passed.

Anxiety becomes a problem when a child or young person feels stuck in it. When this happens, it can become an overwhelming experience. It can also affect their daily life and limit the things they feel able to do.

If your child or young person is struggling with anxiety, there are things you can do to help them. We've got advice to help you provide reassuring support, work on strategies together and find professional help if they need it.

What makes young people anxious?

A child or young person may be anxious for different reasons. Feeling a bit more worried sometimes is normal and there is not always a clear reason for this. But if your child is feeling unmanageable amounts of anxiety, this is often a sign that something in their life isn't quite right. They may need support to work out what the problem is.

This video by St Catherine's College is a useful way of understanding how stress and anxiety might build up in a person's life.

The following kinds of things can make some children and young people feel anxious:

finding school difficult or experiencing school anxiety

being around someone else who is very anxious, such as a parent

going through a significant change, such as moving house, parents separating or changing school

the death or illness of a close family member or friend

having lots of responsibility, for example caring for other people in their family

experiencing family stress around things like housing, money and debt

going through experiences in which they do not feel safe, such as being bullied, witnessing or experiencing abuse, or experiencing discrimination such as racism, homophobia or transphobia

not getting the right support or having their needs recognised if they have a neurodiverse condition such as autism or ADHD

Signs of anxiety in children and young people

Anxiety often affects our body, thoughts, feelings and behaviour. A child or young person who is struggling with anxiety may also behave differently or start using coping mechanisms to try to manage or avoid the anxiety. Below are some of the signs to look out for in children and young people.

Young people share their experience of anxiety.

How to help your child or young person when they feel panicky

In a very anxious moment, your child or young person may feel frightened or worried about having a panic attack. If this happens, focus on helping them to calm down and feel safe. The strategies below can help.

Breathe slowly and deeply together

Show/hide caption

A hand with five fingers spread. A pointed finger shows instructions for moving around each finger with the words 'Breathe in' as you move upwards, and 'Breathe out' as you move downwards.

Together, hold your hands out in front of you. Trace the outline of each of your fingers slowly with your other hand. Breathe in as you go up each finger, and out as you come down. Move and breathe as slowly as feels comfortable. Over time, encourage your child or young person to breathe out for one or two counts longer than they breathe in. This can help their body to relax.

If you would like to have a copy of this technique with you, you can download and print our resource.

Try using all five senses together

Show/hide caption

A picture of eyes, an ear, a hand, a nose and a mouth. Text reads next to each one: "5 things you can see. 4 things you can hear. 3 things you can touch. 2 things you can smell. 1 thing you can taste."

Connecting with what we can see, touch, hear, smell and taste is sometimes called 'grounding'. Doing grounding techniques can make us feel more present and bring us back into our body. This can reduce the intensity of our anxiety. Think together about what they can see, touch, hear, smell and taste.

For example, they might notice: five different colours; four soft things in the room; three sounds like cars going past the window or the noise of the washing machine; two things they can smell, like a scented candle or a piece of fruit; and one thing they find soothing to eat.

If you would like to have a copy of this technique with you, you can download and print our resource.

Remember, you don't need to do all of these things each time. Everyone is different, and it's about figuring out which of these strategies suits them best.

After they have calmed down, it can help to remind them that the panicky feeling did not last forever. They were able to do things that helped and the feeling stopped.

How to help your child or young person manage their anxiety

As well as managing panicky moments, your child or young person can also learn how to deal with their anxiety over the longer-term.

Many of these strategies are about helping them to understand how their anxiety works and what helps them. The more confident they feel about this, the more they will believe in their ability to cope. This can make anxiety feel more manageable.

As you think about strategies you might try, always remind yourself you're doing your best. It's natural to feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes. But remember, you do not need to try five different things at once. Have a look through these suggestions and pick one or two things you think might help.

There are some daily activities that are really important for our mental health. These are:

physical exercise, or some movement

sleeping well

eating healthily

drinking water

connecting and spending quality time with loved ones

They might sound simple, but they can have a big effect on our mood. Regular exercise can be particularly important because it can help to reduce feelings of anxiety in the body. It doesn't have to be much - walking or gentle yoga can help.

If you have a teenager or young adult, reducing alcohol and caffeinated drinks such as coffee can help. This is because they can trigger the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Some children and young people will need support from a mental health professional. They may benefit from a specific diagnosis or a treatment such as talking therapy. You can find more information about this below.

Young people tell us it also helps to...

think about something you're looking forward to

imagine your thoughts leaving your brain and floating off into the sky

keep yourself occupied

have time out

reflect on how you're feeling

talk to other people you trust

remind yourself you're not alone - odds are someone in your friendship circle has anxiety or depression too

Finding professional help

You might also find helpful...

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Supporting A Child With Anxiety | Tips and Advice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your child or teenager is struggling with anxiety, we've got information about signs and treatment, and practical strategies you can do together.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many well-meaning parents try to protect anxious kids from their fears, but overprotecting can actually make anxiety worse. Here are pointers for helping kids cope with anxiety without reinforcing it.

Do try to help a child manage it. The best way to help kids overcome anxiety is to help them learn to tolerate it as well as they can. Over time the anxiety will diminish.

Anxiety can be a useful emotion, notes Grace Berman, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker at the Child Mind Institute. For example, when we're crossing the street and a car comes speeding toward us, anxiety is what gets us out of the way. For kids with anxiety disorders, it can be important to realize the difference between helpful and unhelpful anxiety. "I'll often use the metaphor of an overactive fire alarm - sometimes they go off when there actually isn't a fire," she explains. "Treatment is about recalibrating our anxiety alarms so that we're listening to our anxiety in dangerous situations, and also learning when anxiety isn't helpful and ways to manage this."

Helping children avoid the things they are afraid of will make them feel better in the short term, but it reinforces the anxiety over the long run.

A lot of caring parents can think that helping children to avoid their fears is helpful, because we see the reduction in anxiety in the short term. But what this does is send the message to kids that they can't handle this situation, that they need to continue to avoid it. "The message we want to send is that this is something we know they're brave enough to handle, even if it feels scary," Berman says.

Don't promise a child that what they fear won't happen - that you know they won't fail the test - but do express confidence that they'll be able to manage whatever happens.

Anxiety is at its core about a difficultly tolerating uncertainty. "When we promise kids that their fear won't happen, we're giving them a false sense of certainty, which is not only potentially untrue, it also feeds the anxiety," Berman adds. "Instead, we want to send the message that they can handle the situation, no matter what happens."

Validating feelings doesn't mean agreeing with them. So if a child is terrified about going to the doctor, do listen and be empathetic, but encourage them to feel that they can face their fears.

Berman suggests saying: "I know you feel scared to go to the doctor, AND I know that you can handle this." This validates their feeling of fear, but also inspires a sense of confidence in their ability to be brave.

Encourage your child to talk about their feelings, but try not to ask leading questions - "Are you anxious about the big test?" Instead, ask open-ended questions: "How are you feeling about the science fair?"

Open-ended questions help kids to reflect on their own emotional experience, which is an important part of managing anxiety. Anxiety often shows up in some specific situations but not others, so it's important to not make assumptions about a child's emotions, but instead let them tap into that understanding and share information about how they feel.

Avoid suggesting, with your tone of voice or body language: "Maybe this is something that you should be afraid of."

Anxious kids often have anxious parents, Berman notes, because there are genetic and learned components of anxiety. If you can convey confidence in anxiety-provoking situations, both verbally and nonverbally, this will help your child to feel less anxious.

Let your child know that you appreciate how hard they're working, and remind them that the more they tolerate their anxiety, the more it will diminish.

It can be really challenging for kids to face their fears, and any opportunity to encourage them and acknowledge their hard work will help in this process.

When we're afraid of something, the hardest time is before we do it. So if a child is nervous about going to a doctor's appointment, don't discuss it until you need to.

You may decide to tell them the night before or the morning of or even a few days before, depending on the child. But the goal is to not give them too much time to ruminate about this, while also not springing the appointment on them. "It can be helpful for kids to feel like they have a little preparation time," Berman adds, "but not too much."

Sometimes it helps to talk through what would happen if a fear came true - how would they handle it? For some kids, having a plan can reduce the uncertainty in a healthy, effective way.

For example, if you have a child with separation anxiety who is worried about getting separated from you in a store, you can create a plan together ahead of time. You can highlight the low likelihood of getting separated, Berman suggests, and also say something like, "In this store, the employees wear green vests, so if we do get lost, all you have to do is find an adult wearing a green vest and ask them for help finding me." This will help to reduce anxiety and also teach effective problem-solving skills.

Don't pretend that you don't experience stress and anxiety, but do let kids hear or see you managing it calmly, tolerating it, and feeling good about getting through it.

Kids learn by watching their parents, so any time you model coping well with anxiety is a helpful learning opportunity for them. For example, Berman suggests, if you're on the train and running late and feeling stressed, you could say something like, "I'm feeling worried about making it to our appointment on time, so I'm going to take some slow deep breaths to help me calm down." For older kids you might not narrate in the same way, but still engaging in this effective coping will model healthy ways of handling anxiety.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Tips for Parenting Anxious Kids - Child Mind Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to support children who are anxious. Protecting them from things they fear makes anxiety worse. Instead, express confidence that they can handle it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada is committed to promoting the mental well-being of children and youth in Canada. We are dedicated to nurturing resilience in kids with the use of psychological science so they can manage, learn, and grow from the many challenges in life. Please join us to ensure that every child in Canada has the opportunity to thrive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada is committed to promoting the mental well-being of children and youth in Canada. We are dedicated to nurturing resilience in kids with the use of psychological science so they can manage, learn, and grow from the many challenges in life.

# data[].attributes.headline
Video - Early Childhood Development: Gross Motor Skills - Physical Therapy

# data[].attributes.subject
Video - Early Childhood Development: Gross Motor Skills - Physical Therapy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Early Childhood Development: Gross Motor Skills Milestones from 0-6 Years

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Cerebral palsy, or CP, refers to a group of developmental conditions that have several features in common. All are associated with (caused by) some kind of injury to the developing brain. The injury can occur in the womb, during the birth of the baby, or in the first couple of years after birth (usually because of infection or trauma to the brain).

The visible evidence of CP are the ' motor disabilities ' - challenges in how a person develops and maintains control of their movement. Children with CP usually have issues with whole-body movement, including walking, and often in using their hands and arms.

In addition, children with CP may also have other challenges resulting from their brain injury, including problems with:

Seizures
Thinking
Communicating

What parts of the body are involved?

CP can involve one side of the body and look like a stroke (which might in fact be the original cause of this form of CP). This is often called ' unilateral' CP or ' hemiplegia ' because one side of the body is affected.

CP can be ' bilateral', meaning that it affects motor development and control on both sides of the body. People talk about ' diplegia ', meaning that the main effects of the CP are on lower limb control, with some (or occasionally no) challenges with upper limb function.

We also refer to ' quadriplegia' (from Latin) or ' tetraplegia ' (from Greek) to refer to whole-body involvement with all the limbs and the trunk affected.

What kind of motor control problems might one observe?

There are many words used to describe the ways that motor control may be impaired. These words describe the way the CP affects movement, and none of these terms should be considered a kind of CP.

Spasticity

Refers to situations in which muscles are especially sensitive to being stretched. The reflexes are very reactive, and this may contribute to the problems people have when they move, especially quickly. There are a number of ways to treat spasticity, but these treatments do not restore typical motor control.

Dystonia

Refers to moment-to-moment variability in muscle tone, such that it can be challenging for people to control their movements (such as reaching, or walking, or speaking clearly and fluently).

Athetosis

Refers to writhing movements of the limbs, head and neck, and instability of the trunk, usually more evident when people are trying to do things than when they are sitting quietly (also known as 'choreoathetosis').

Ataxia

Refers to lack of coordination and hence unsteadiness of the trunk, similar to what one sees in a person who has had too much to drink (though in CP this is not the cause of the unsteadiness!).

How 'severe' is the CP?

There are several ways to describe and classify function in people with CP. These systems each have five 'levels', ranging from most functional (Level I) to least functional (Level V).

All have been carefully developed, and it has been shown that

1. The distinctions between the levels of function in each of these systems are meaningfully different from the others

2. People can be consistent in how they use these systems

3. Parents can categorize their child as well as professionals can.

All three systems can be downloaded free and in several languages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Cerebral palsy, or CP, refers to a group of developmental conditions that have several features in common. All are associated with (caused by) some kind of injury to the developing brain. The injury can occur in the womb, during the birth of the baby, or in the first couple of years after birth (usually because of infection or trauma to the brain).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
INSIGHTS FROM EXPERTS - Cerebral Palsy Foundation

# data[].attributes.headline
FIREFLY offers Triple P - Positive Parenting Program. 

# data[].attributes.subject
FIREFLY offers Triple P - Positive Parenting Program. 

# data[].attributes.body
Triple P

WHAT IS TRIPLE P - Positive Parenting Program?

Triple P is a parenting program, but it doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. Instead, it provides information, space, and perspective to explore your own parenting. It allows you the ability to choose your own goals, according to your own beliefs and values, and then select and adapt Triple P parenting strategies to help you achieve those goals. It’s all about making Triple P work for you.

WHAT DOES TRIPLE P DO?

The three Ps in ‘Triple P’ stand for ‘Positive Parenting Program’ which means your family life is going to be much more enjoyable.

Triple P helps you:

Raise happy, confident children

Manage misbehaviour so everyone in the family enjoys life more

Set rules and routines that everyone respects and follows

Encourage behaviour you like

Take care of yourself as a parent

Feel confident you’re doing the right thing

Stay up-to-date on registration and session dates by following FIREFLY's social media platforms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Triple P - Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world, backed up by more than 35 years of ongoing research. Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children's behavior and prevent problems developing. Triple P is used in more 30 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups and in many different kinds of family structures.

This website is for practitioners, agencies, jurisdictions and governments. If you are a parent, please go to Triple P's parent website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Triple P Positive Parenting Program, for practitioners, professionals, government and non-government organisations (NGOs) implementing Triple P in your local area.

# data[].attributes.headline
Offered in partnership with Kenora Association for Community Living+  FIREFLY - Circle of Security Parenting Program

# data[].attributes.subject
Offered in partnership with Kenora Association for Community Living+  FIREFLY - Circle of Security Parenting Program

# data[].attributes.body
Circle of Security Parenting Program (COSP), offered in partnership with Kenora Association for Community Living

Circle of Security Parenting Program

This program is open to all parents and caregivers of young children. The Circle of Security-Parenting™ Program offers caregivers new ways to understand their child(ren)’s needs by recognizing and responding to their cues. It helps shift focus from trying to change undesirable behaviours with rewards and punishment, to seeing that these behaviours are a way of communicating a need from a child falling somewhere in the circle.

The trained COSP facilitators will help caregivers feel confident to encourage their children to go out and explore the world, while simultaneously recognizing when they may need more interaction and potentially intervention. The program does not tell caregivers how to parent but helps them to better understand cues and the importance of their role as an attachment figure, meaning a person of safety and comfort that a child has a strong relationship with.

For more information on the Circle of Security Program, including a video that walks through the Circle visit: What is the Circle of Security - Circle of Security International .

Stay up-to-date on registration and session dates by following FIREFLY's social media platforms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Circle of Security is a visual map of attachment, used in family education and intervention programs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
PCMH has chapters in regions across Ontario hosting peer support groups with parents and caregivers. Our group sizes vary from chapter to chapter, but you can expect as few as seven people to as many as 30 parents in your group. Some chapters have regular guest speakers on topics ranging from anxiety and ADHD, to parenting and self care. Sessions with guest speakers often bring a larger number of parents to our meetings.

Our chapters meet monthly. Throughout the pandemic, our chapters have not been able to meet regularly in-person, however, many have continued to host meetings on Zoom. When we are able to meet in person again, we often meet in community spaces or at the local child and youth mental health agency.

When you join a PCMH peer support chapter, it is free and there is no commitment required.

Find a peer support chapter in your community

York/Aurora

All meetings are virtual until Jan. 2023

In Person meetings will resume in Jan. 2023
218 Earl Stewart Drive (From Bayview Ave take Pedersen, west side of Bayview, one block south of St. John's just south of Superstore.)

Chatham-Kent

Chapter leaders: Laurie and Sharon
Laurie believes that peer support enables family/caregivers to safely tell their story to someone who has been in similar shoes. Laurie has lived experience having a loved one with mental health challenges. As family/caregivers are given the tools to cope, are educated in mental health, and are led to services that they feel will best meet their needs, they feel empowered for the journey, enabling hope to build. Laurie is passionate that stigma be stamped out and believes this happens through knowledge building. As an elementary teacher for 31 years she knows all too well that, from an early age, there can be signs of mental distress. Laurie believes that by accessing support early, when symptoms first appear, the entire family is better able to be more resilient, and to experience less suffering. Laurie is a facilitator of the evidence- based "Family Connections" course, which gives families the DBT skills they need to manage their own emotions when their loved one is experiencing mental health and other challenges. With Laurie's experience facilitating family advisory councils she encourages family members to advocate for better services, and Laurie's involvement in both provincial and national family council networks enables her to be aware of the services offered in other communities, and successful advocacy pathways. By belonging to the larger network of PCMH chapters it is Laurie's hope that the Chatham-Kent chapter will continually strive to meet the ever-changing needs of its members.

Sharon learned about the PCMH organization a couple years ago at a United Way Fundraiser championing the organizations benefiting from the UW funding and has been involved for approximately 2 years. Sharon has two children ages 23 and 21. Both experienced many mental wellness challenges during their teenage years; one living with severe substance use and the other with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Sharon felt alone in her experiences trying to get them help and did not feel there was an easy way to get access to resources. Sharon has always been a strong advocate for her children and organizations that help families which is why she is now a member with PCMH to help raise awareness and help get access to resources. She was recently asked to co-chair the Chatham chapter and is looking forward to this next opportunity to support families.

Guelph

All meetings are virtual.

Chapter leaders: Holly and Jeff
Holly Sabara and Jeff Warner - Holly and Jeff are the loving parents of 3 boys in Guelph, ON. Their oldest son struggles with a variety of serious mental health disorders and challenges. Over the past 9 years they have navigated and worked with many different levels and branches of the mental health system across the province as they advocated for their son. Holly and Jeff identified the lack of a local support group for parents of children with mental health disorders, which led to becoming PCMH group leaders in Guelph. Holly and Jeff share a passion for helping families navigate the system, listening to their journeys and advocating for their children. Since 2017, Jeff has served on the Parent Advisory Council for CPRI, in London, ON and Holly is currently the Parent Council Chair for their grade school in Guelph.

Hamilton

Meetings:
Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8:00pm For more information contact hamilton@pcmh.ca

In-person meeting: Currently meetings are virtual

Chapter leaders: Louise, Jen
Louise is the proud mom of 4 children, three of whom struggle with various mental health challenges. Her family was involved in children's mental health services for six years before learning about PCMH and supports it offers around the province. Louise and her co-leader, Jen Leighton, began the Hamilton Chapter months later with the goal of ensuring that families in Hamilton know that support is available for them right from the beginning of their journey. Louise and Jen share a passion for helping families living with mental health challenges meet each day with hope and optimism. Louise brings over 20 years of grassroots advocacy and support group facilitation to her work with PCMH. Louise has been the family representative on Hamilton's Lead Agency Planning Team for Moving on Mental Health since the fall of 2014. Louise works in the child and youth mental health sector, helping organizations and system level initiatives engage youth and families in meaningful ways to improve services. In her personal life, Louise loves the spend time with her family and dogs, spend time with her family and dogs, read novels that make her think and rides her bike on hilly country rides.

Jen is a loving and proud mom of an effervescent adolescent boy who has had over six mental health diagnoses. Over the years, she has gained many experiences through the mental health system that she has used as learning opportunities for herself and her family. Jen returned to school to pursue her Social Service Worker Diploma and is thrilled to have completed internships with Lynwood Charlton Centre. Jen and her co-leader, Louise Murray-Leung, share a passion for guiding parents and caregivers and providing support for families with children and youth that live with mental health challenges. Jen is creative in detail. She enjoys capturing many aspects of her and her son's life on camera and adores scrapbooking those memories with great appreciation. Jen loves to spend time at the family cottage on Lake Erie. Jen has great affection for animals and is currently balancing her patience with a new puppy and 4 cats.

Orangeville

This chapter offers peer support only, if you live in this region and are interested in peer support please email orangeville@pcmh.ca to book a time to speak with our Chapter Leader Sarah

Meetings: no monthly meetings

Chapter leaders: Sarah

Simcoe

Meetings:
For meeting details email simcoecounty@pcmh.ca
All Meetings are virtual. Chapter leader:

Timmins

Meetings:
Monthly meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for more information contact timmins@pcmh.ca
In-person meetings:
Vic Mahoney Centre - 166 Brousseau Avenue

Chapter leader: Cathy Courville

Cathy started the Chapter in Timmins in 2019 because she knew that her community needed a safe, non-judgmental, supportive place for parents to go to share their experiences. It is easy to feel alone in the journey through a child's mental health illness, and she wanted to provide a place for parents to connect and feel less alone. The monthly meetings can serve whatever purpose a parent needs, from support with a crisis or navigating care or school, to just getting out of the house and having a cup of coffee and a chat to clear their head.

As a profession, Cathy has worked her entire 24 year career with children and their families. She was a Resource Teacher for most of that time, assisting families in navigating the special needs system. She quickly recognized the need among those families for extra support in accepting, advocating for, and receiving emotional support as they navigated their children's various diagnosis. Many of the "special needs" diagnosis came with a mental health component as well, which was often considered secondary by professionals, but made life at home difficult.

Cathy is a mother of two young adults, and grandmother of two boys. Her lived experience comes from supporting her daughter who has struggled with her mental health since 2010, when she was in the fourth grade. Cathy has experience navigating the school system with a child with mental health issues, as well as the public mental health system. Over the years she has sought support for various "diagnoses" for her daughter, including anxiety, ADHD, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, and continues to do so.

Cathy recognizes that limited resources in a smaller community can make this journey even more challenging and difficult on parents and siblings. She strives to make the few hours she spends with parents as supportive, informative, and refreshing as possible.

Windsor

Meetings:
Daytime Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 1 pm to 2:30 pm.

Evening Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm

For more information please contact Windsor@pcmh.ca

Meeting Location:
Regional Children's Centre(RCC) 3901 Connaught - 3901 Connaught in the Ozad Room

Chapter leader: Cherie

Kingston

In Person:
Location TBD

Chapter leader: Charlie

Burlington

In-person:
Currently all meetings are virtual

Chapter leader: Brenda

Durham

Register Here to Join our Virtual Meeting
In-person meeting:
Oshawa Centre, 419 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1J 2K5

Chapter leader: Vicki
Vicki is a Special Education Teacher with the Durham District School Board, and a mom who lost her only son Tyler to a long struggle with mental health and addictions. She uses this lived experience to propel her forward to find solutions and effect change in the field of Child and Youth Mental Health Services. She is the Chapter Lead for Durham PCMH, and represents PCMH Durham on the Youth Suicide Prevention Network and the Durham District School Board Mental Health Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Durham Kinark and the Family Advisory Committee for Kinark. She was the winner of the 2014 Kinark Chair's Award, acknowledging her time spent volunteering in different capacities as a proponent for child and youth mental health. Vicki is also a Family Engagement Trainer (Family Voice) for the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, and was awarded the Excellence in Family Engagement Award by Parents for Children's Mental Health in 2016. Vicki is a skilled facilitator, who also facilitates restorative practice circles. Vicki's experience as a parent, a career as a Child and Youth Worker for 17 years before becoming a teacher, and working 16 years in the field of education puts her in a unique role to support families in the journey.

London

In-person meeting:
Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. For more information contact london@pcmh.ca

Chapter leader: Anne Marie

Anne Marie comes to PCMH with a passion for supporting families stemming from her own journey. Anne Marie has three children with whom she has been navigating the mental health system for over ten years. Her experience has included multiple diagnoses including ADHD, OCD, BPD, Selective Mutism, Anxiety, Depression, and more. Peer support and connections to others who understand how difficult a journey this is on the entire family unit has gotten her through the last few years so she wants to ensure others have the same.

Anne Marie's professional role is as an Family Resource Facilitator connecting families who have a child using Children's hospital in London, Ontario. She provides connections to in-hospital and community resources along with providing peer support. Her own children's mental health journey has led her here and drives her to continue supporting families.

Oakville

Meetings:
Monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of the month from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. For more information contact oakville@pcmh.ca or 1-800-637-1108 ext 111.

In-person:
Canadian Mental Health Association, 1540 Cornwall Road, Oakville (Entrance at the northwest side at the back of the building. Meetings will be held in the large boardroom)

Chapter leaders: Numila and Jodie
Numila, MSW, RSW

Numila joined PCMH in November 2013 as a parent seeking support , information and some direction navigating the mental health system, school system and community resources. Within the PCMH support meetings, the group members were wonderfully understanding and empathic, lending support in a non-judgemental atmosphere. It was comforting knowing others shared their personal experiences that I could relate to.

As a mental health professional, Numila shared her expertise as a volunteer at her children's schools on many levels and was an active participant, supporter and fundraiser in many charitable initiatives to include Breast Cancer Awareness,, United Way,Ontario Friends of Schizophrenia, Shine Out! Shout Out! , and CMHA.

Numila continues as Chapter Leader , playing a pivotal role in affecting change in the mental health system, acting as a strong advocate sharing the family voice about challenges families encounter on their mental health journey.

Jodie
Jodie is one of the founding members of the Oakville PCMH Chapter. She has a background in Nursing and an HBA in Sociology. She uses her strengths and lived experience to be a strong advocate for her daughter. She has a great deal of experience navigating community supports and the school system and keeping current with policy trends. Jodie has been actively involved in providing education to parents through community events alongside other mental health partners. She has also created a useful family resource guide pertaining to anxiety which can be accessed on the Oakville PCMH website.

Sarnia

Chapter leaders: Jessi and Tanya

Jessi is an advocate for children's mental health through her role as a kindergarten teacher in the public school board. She has taken mental health training to better support her kids' mental health challenges and has stayed active as a volunteer in the mental health community. After having difficulty finding support for herself, she is grateful to be able to provide support to other families through her role with PCMH.

Tanya has suffered from mental health challenges that were undiagnosed for many years and this has led her to become a strong advocate for children's mental health. She wants for all children including her children to grow up in a world where they do not need to fight the stigma of mental health. Through accessing services for her children in her community the lack of support for struggling families was very evident. PCMH has given the community and the parent voice a chance to be heard and to support each other when the system has failed

Stratford

Meetings:
New schedule coming soon, for more information contact stratford@pcmh.ca

Virtual meetings:

Chapter leaders: Jess

Sudbury

In-person: Lasalle Secondary School: 1545 Kennedy Street, Sudbury, P3A 2G1 Room 104

Online Meeting: (same time as the in-person)

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kcOmppj0rHNT3Q4C46lKOjQcvDedxYvO-

Chapter leader: Laura and Kara

Laura is a champion for children's mental health. A mother of three, Laura knows firsthand the challenges parents face when navigating the mental health system. A passionate and compassionate teacher, Laura ensures that all of her students feel safe and welcome in her classroom and in the school. She knows that learning happens when children's social-emotional needs are met.

Kara is a mother of two and a Student Success Teacher with the Rainbow District School Board. As part of her work, she walks parents through the process of assessment to educational identification. She works diligently with families, supporting them as they access services, read Individual Education Plans, and participate actively in their children's education. She is passionate about community building for the mental wellbeing of its members and advocacy for students with special needs.

Waterloo

Meetings:
General Peer Support Group - Monthly Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. For more information contact waterloo@pcmh.ca

In-person meetings:
Langs, 1145 Concession Rd., Cambridge (Room E105)

ADHD Peer Support Group - Monthly meetings held on the third Wednesday from 7:00pm to 8:30pm

In-person:
Front Door, 1770 King St. E., Kitchener
For more information contact waterloo@pcmh.ca or call 519-749-8740 ext 212
Waterloo Resource Brochure
Chapter leaders: Erin and Kristen

Erin
Erin is the mother of twin boys who are nine years old. Both of her sons have complex trauma, ADHD and anxiety, so she is familiar with and has used a variety of services within the Waterloo region. She is also studying to become an early childhood educator, due to her love of working with children who have special needs in the childcare program.
Kristen
Kristen is the mother of 3 children, one of which is now a pre-teen who has been involved in all levels of the Region's mental health system since a very young age. Kristen has extensive experience in advocacy within community resources and the school system, along with a passion for de-escalation strategies and crisis management.

Professionally, Kristen has spent most of her career in the foster care system, supporting youth with developmental delays and mental health diagnoses. She is now excited to be attending college to begin a second career in nursing. Kristen is looking forward to supporting families along their journey and providing comfort on this tough road of parenting through mental illness.

Toronto

Meetings:

Monthly meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 7pm to 8:30pm . For more information contact toronto@pcmh.ca

Chapter leader: Jenny
Jenny Hewlett (MHc) is a health communications specialist who has worked for non-profits, large corporations and hospitals in Vancouver, Toronto & Boston. In 2007, she moved to the U.K. where she founded a Community Interest Company (CIC) which provided food education to children in inner-city schools, including installing edible teaching gardens in schools and London parks. Jenny returned to Toronto with her family in 2021 and started a new venture focused on restorative pilates.

Jenny recently joined Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH) as a volunteer to build a Toronto Chapter that can help parents find better access to resources and to benefit, like she has, from connecting with other parents. Jenny and her husband experienced first-hand the challenges of having a child who struggles with severe mental illness. Coping with school absenteeism, hospitalizations, lack of effective support or treatments and relapses, while also trying to preserve sibling well-being, can quickly feel overwhelming and isolating.

In the past Jenny has been an active member of support groups for parents with children in therapeutic care. Parents who go through these challenges often gain knowledge and empathy that can greatly benefit others in similar situations.

CAS Care Provider Peer Support Chapter

This is a provincial Group, all meetings are virtual. This peer support is for OACAS Care Providers, Kin, Adoptive, and Customary Care.
Chapter leader: Crystal

If you can't find a chapter near you, please contact support@pcmh.ca

We do not provide crisis or clinical services of any kind. Our emails will be answered within 48 hours. If you, or someone you love is at immediate risk please contact your local emergency services or dial 911.

More Info

More Info

More Info

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PCMH has chapters in regions across Ontario hosting peer support groups with parents and caregivers. Our group sizes vary from chapter to chapter, but you can expect as few as seven people to as many as 30 parents in your group. Some chapters have regular guest speakers on topics ranging from anxiety and ADHD, to parenting and self care.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by Children's Mental Health Ontario and

Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH)

The Family Care Centre is a resource hub for parents and caregivers of children and youth with mental illness.

We know how hard it is for families who are navigating the mental health system while supporting their children. We are sharing only trusted, evidence-based information to help parents find much-needed support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Family Care Centre is a resource hub for parents and caregivers of children and youth with mental illness.

# data[].attributes.headline
FIREFLY - Parenting Mental Health Support Worker with RoxAnne Daignault

# data[].attributes.subject
FIREFLY - Parenting Mental Health Support Worker with RoxAnne Daignault

# data[].attributes.body
FIREFLY Parenting Mental Health Support Worker with RoxAnne Daignault

RoxAnne is the parent of one child who has struggled with mental illness for over 17 years and is now an independent adult successfully living on their own. RoxAnne spent much of her time attending support groups, workshops, and courses related to mental health, coaching, and supporting other caregivers in search of finding a community that she could connect with on these challenges. She has spoken at various events about her experience, notably the Vancouver Mental Health Conference in 2014 and the Two-Eyed Seeing Conference in 2023. Now RoxAnne is sharing her expertise and creating an environment of peer support, education, and empowerment with other parents and caregivers through partnered organizations so that others can find a sense of belonging and experience the same sense of community that she found when it mattered most.

Contact RoxAnne – rdaignault@fireflynw.ca

HOW CAN YOU ACCESS SUPPORT?

One-on-one Support: (In person, by phone, on Zoom or Teams) Anytime – 1 on 1 sessions Link to book:

https://fireflynw.coconutcalendar.com/s/caregiver

Group Sessions: (virtual via Zoom)

These virtual meeting take place every Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. CT (8:00-9:30 p.m. ET). Please note that on the first and third Wednesdays of the month the focus may be centered around children and youth.

Link to register:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpceiprjMjGd3nyeCV-oFLO1bx8tfUs7AA#/registration

For more information you can contact kenora@pcmh.ca or check out their website – https://www.family.cmho.org/