Navigating the system

Photo: Contributed

The Canadian Mental Health Association is putting on a special event to help parents and their children connect with local mental health resources.

“When my child rages I cannot calm him. He struggles with extreme anxiety that turns into explosive behaviour. I can’t tell you how difficult it has been to find the help that he needs.”

This is a common sentence mental health professionals hear in Canada according to the CMHA.

Even though mental health problems are not rare, 20 per cent of Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, parents are often met with barriers when trying to access services for their children.

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week from Oct. 4 to 10, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna and District Branch and The FORCE Society for Kids Mental Health want to help families find the support that they need to help children and youth struggling with mental health issues.

On Thursday Oct. 8 from 2 to 6 p.m., parents and caregivers are invited to attend Supporting Our Families: Navigating the System to find out the first steps for getting children and youth the help they need.

The CMHA Kelowna reports that parents often share their frustration finding the help they need in a hard to navigate system.

“CMHA Kelowna and The FORCE Society for Kids Mental Health are trying to change this,” writes CMHA Kelowna.

By attending this event, parents and caregivers can expect to be connected directly with service providers and family supports, including Interior Health Mental Health, Substance Use Service, Child and Youth Mental Health Services and many others.

“Families can often feel very alone on this journey and by hosting a free event that helps families learn more and connect with mental health services and resources, we want to show that you are not alone,” says Melody Brewer, parent and family navigator with CMHA Kelowna.

The event is being at the West Kelowna Lions Hall at 2466 Main Street.

Families are welcome to drop in anytime between 2 and 6 p.m. or at specific times to attend the following scheduled presentations:

• 2 p.m. – Stepping In, Instead of Stepping Away: Kids Need, and Want, Caring Adults in Their Lives
• 4 p.m. – Guest speaker Harry Holman will share his experiences with mental health issues as a young man and how he has found a path of self-discovery, recovery, and happiness.
• 5 p.m. – Dr. Kate Aubrey, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, will present a brief discussion on anxiety and what parents can do to help children and youth. This presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

For more information on the event, check the CMHA Kelowna website here.