National Child and Youth Mental Health Day

According to a 2023 Canadian report, 70% of mental health challenges develop before the age of 18. The same report showed that 60% of young people between the ages of 12 to 18 had significant symptoms of at least 1 mental health condition, with as many as 51% having symptoms of depression and 39% having symptoms of anxiety. Despite these high numbers, 36% of young people experience barriers to receiving mental health support. 

National Child and Youth Mental Health Day aims to create connections between young people and supportive adults. Specifically, May 7th serves as a reminder to supportive adults to reach out, check in, and show up for the young people in their lives.

National Child and Youth Mental Health Day was coined by FamilySmart, as a way to show how important small moments, such as saying “I Care About You”, can be to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. 

Please see the organizations below for additional resources and support: 

FamilySmart has created tool kits for parents, caregivers, educators, and community members to connect with the young people you support and create those small but meaningful moments to say you care. https://may7icare.ca/ 

Jack.org is a large Canadian network for young people supporting young people. It offers mental health support, safe spaces, professional support, advocates, and peer support. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides mental health resources, helplines, and youth programming across Canada. Please visit the link below to find your local chapter. https://cmha.ca/find-help/find-cmha-in-your-area/