These times of Coronavirus and social distancing are tough on all of us.
For someone who is living with mental health issues, the anxiety and change in routine can be overwhelming.
Please know that alone doesn’t mean lonely, and that asking for help is a sign of strength.
Parents, if your child has been diagnosed with a mental health issue, please know you are not alone. We know it can feel that way as you navigate the school system and deal with the pressures and stigma associated with these kinds of issues. And we know this is hard. We are here to support you.
Teachers, we know that you are seeing more anxiety in your classrooms than ever before. Statistics tell us that 1 in 5 students — 20% of a classroom — will have some type of mental health issue. This is not defiant behaviour and we need to work together to identify what it truly is.
You are the front line workers with our children — you are the camp counsellors, hockey coaches, dance teachers and more. You spend time with our kids and play such an incredible role in their development. We want to help you to help them to learn and to grow and to empower them, especially in their times of stress and worry. We want to build a compassionate community for all those who suffer, their families and all those who love them.
Watch Leanne Matlow, a cognitive behavioural therapy counsellor, as she guides us in caring for our own mental health and the mental health of our kids during this tumultuous time.
I think we have finally come to a conclusion that we all have something to say and it should be allowed for any of us to not be afraid and share our thoughts and our vision for the world we live in.
Any one of these shifts could be expected to cause an increase in mental health issues. Put together, they created a perfect storm for a crisis.