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Child and youth mental health

HomeHealth TopicsMental well-beingChildren and youth mental health
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Understanding what mental health is, can help you talk to your child about their mental well-being. Think of mental health as a range with one end being good mental health and the other end being poor mental health. We all move across this range at various times in our lives and we can all experience poor mental health at times in our life. Just like physical health, it is important we take care of our mental health. 

Your child’s mental health can be affected by genetics, what is currently happening in their life, past experiences, and access to resources and supports.

How to support the mental well-being of your child or youth

There are things you can do as a parent to support your child’s mental well-being.

  • Prioritize sleep 
  • Move more
  • Get outdoors - being outdoors and in nature can help reduce stress and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • Manage and monitor screen time
  • Eat well
  • Listen, respond, and connect with your child or youth
  • Managing stress - Some stress is normal, but too much can make it difficult for children to concentrate, learn and get along with others. Too much stress can interfere with a child’s ability to manage everyday tasks and can lead to physical and emotional health problems. 

Sometimes help from a trained person is needed.

Most Ontario schools have mental health professionals on staff who provide supports to students. If your child is already connected to their school support team, reach out to them. If not, check with the school principal to learn about school supports that are available.

School Mental Health Ontario provides information on supports available in Ontario schools and tips on how to work with your school to support your child’s mental health.

Maltby Centre offers free access to evidence-based resources including counseling, therapy and intensive services to children and youth from ages 0 to 18 and their families or caregivers. Check out their calendar of events for virtual and in-person workshops offering tips and strategies to parents and caregivers who are seeking help.

Kids Help Phone offers support to kids, teens, and parents or caregivers. Phone and virtual mental health services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tips for parents and caregivers to help children deal with stress

  • Listen, respond and connect with your child or youth. Supportive relationships are an important stress reliever for children. Spend time with your child, listen to them and show them love and affection. Canadian Paediatric Society offers specific tips on talking to your teen.
  • Develop routines. Daily routines help children feel their world is predictable and safe.  Morning routines get the day off to a good start and bedtime routines help children relax and fall asleep.
  • Move more. Activities like going for a walk, playing catch or dancing to music release brain chemicals that help children feel less tense and anxious.
  • Get outdoors. Getting outdoors will help you and your child recharge and de-stress.
  • Practice calming strategies together. Teaching your child simple relaxation exercises can help calm a difficult moment.
  • Role model calm. Staying calm will teach your child how to respond to stressful situations. Visit  our improving your mental health page for tips and strategies to help manage your own stress and mental health. 

Kids Help Phone offers suggestions for talking to children and teens about stress and the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre suggests ways to recognize, manage, and reduce stress as a family.

Identifying concerns

All children and youth are different. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, consider whether there are changes in the way they think, feel or act. Mental health problems can present as physical problems like increased headaches or stomach aches, decreased energy, problems sleeping or changes in appetite. Visit School Mental Health Ontario for a list of signs that may indicate a mental health concern for your child or youth. 

Community supports for children and youth

24 hour crisis lines. Call in an emergency.

  • Addiction and Mental Health Services KFLA, 613-354-7388 or 1-800-267-7877
  • BounceBack Ontario 
  • Talk Suicide Canada, 1-833-456-4566 - Bilingual services available
  • Hope for Wellness Helpline, 1-855-242-3310 - Immediate help to all Indigenous people (Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut available by request) 
  • Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 - Bilingual services available
  • Kingston Interval House, 613-546-1777 or 1-800-267-9445
  • Lennox & Addington Interval House, 613-354-1010 or 1-800-667-1010 (non-urgent text: 613-449-1080)
  • Métis Nations of Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line 1-877-767-7572
  • Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, 613-544-6424 or 1-877-544-6424 online chat and text support: webelievesurvivors.ca

Community

  • 211 Ontario, 211 - Connect to community, social, and health services - 24 hours a day 7 days a week, bilingual services available.

Immigrant services

  • Immigrant Services Kingston and Area Youth Group, 613-449-7544 or visit them on Facebook

Substance use and addiction

  • Al-Anon/ Alateen Family Groups - Alateen is a peer support group for teens who are struggling with the effects of someone else's drinking problem.
  • Addiction and Mental Health Services KFLA
    • Kingston: 613-544-1356
    • Lennox and Addington: 613-354-7521
  • Detoxification Centre, 613-549-6461
  • Tobacco Information Line, 613-549-1232, ext. 1333

Poison control

  • Ontario Poison Centre, 1-844-764-7669 - 24 hours a day 7 days a week, bilingual services available.

Family services

  • Family and Children Services, 613-545-3227 or 1-855-445-3227 - 24 hours a day 7 days a week, bilingual services available.
  • Parenting in KFL&A, 613-549-1154

Health care

  • CDK Family Medicine and Walk-in Clinic, 613-766-0318
  • Health 811 - Connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice - 24 hours a day 7 days a week, bilingual services available.
  • Napanee Area Community Health Centre, 613-354-8937

Mental health and counseling

  • Maltby Centre, 613-546-8535 or 1-844-855-8340
  • One Stop Talk, 1-855-416-8255 
  • Resolve Counselling Services Canada - Bilingual services available, 613-549-7850

Sexual health

  • Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-833-900-1010 or chat online - 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
  • Sexual Health Information Line, 613-549-1232, ext. 1275 

Housing

  • Kingston Home Base Housing, 613-542-6672
  • Kingston Youth Shelter (16 to 24 years of age), 613-549-4236

LGBTQ

  • LGBT YouthLine, 1-888-687-9688, or text: 647-694-4275
  • Trans Lifeline, 1-877-330-6366

Indigenous supports

  • Enyonkwa’nikonhriyo: hake Good Minds Program, 613-967-0122 ext. 167 - Providing supports to Indigenous people.
  • Red Cedars Shelter in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Crisis line: 1-800-672-9515 - 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Non-crisis line: 613-967-2003 or text: 613-847-3542

Disordered eating

  • National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), 1-866-633-4220 or chat online

Multi-service agencies and programs

  • One Roof – Kingston Youth Hub, 613-542-6672
  • Rural Frontenac Youth Hub, 613-279-3151, ext. 305 
  • Street Health Centre, 613-549-1440
  • Youth Diversion, 613-548-4535
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