Youth & Mental Health Week – Improving the well-being of our children

The health of our community’s children and youth is too often characterized by what’s going wrong and how our kids are getting hurt.  Recent articles outlining the ongoing issues of bullying, health & safety, or a myriad of other contemporary issues, paints a bleak picture of the physical and mental harm suffered by our youth. 

We know that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness, however “mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It’s a state of well-being.”  What often gets lost in this discussion are the capabilities that each young person has that can be developed with the right support.

Mental Health Week takes place from May 6^th to 12^th and will place an emphasis this year on youth mental health.  This is an opportunity to reflect on how children and youth bring “existing competencies … [and] resources and are capable of learning new skills and solving problems” to address the challenges in their life.  These natural strengths and abilities are enhanced and promoted by a number of community organizations, including programs supported by United Way KW. 

Within the Focus Area “AllThat Kids Can Be”, United Way KW supports a range of programs and services that contribute to the local Collective Outcome of Improved emotional well-being for our children and youth.  The result?  Children and youth who are more emotionally prepared to handle significant life stressors like the challenges associated with school success, the impact of bullying, or the development of healthy relationships. 

For instance, in 2012 United Way KW supported programs that benefited over 6500 children and youth with opportunities to build positive relationships, whether with peers or adult role models.  These key relationships contribute to the resiliency of our community’s children and youth so that they are better positioned to become healthy adults. 

It takes caring people and good programs to make a lasting change in the emotional well-being of children.  During this year’s Mental Health Week, think about how you can contribute to the healthy development of children and youth, whether with resources, volunteering, or advocacy efforts.  Change starts here.