Trusted Resources

We know how overwhelming it can be looking for mental health information online. That’s why Children’s Mental Health Ontario curates evidence-based resources to help families and those working with kids to find trustworthy, reliable information.

Choose from some of our most popular resources or search by topic or type of resource below.

Recognizing your Child Needs Help

Managing Crisis

School Mental Health Backpack

Webinars

Parenting Survival Guide

Type of Resource Topic

Aggression Towards Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA): Managing Aggression at Home

Aggression Towards Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA): Managing Aggression at Home

This resource was created to provide support and validation to families who are experiencing aggression in their homes. It will guide families toward strategies and resources to support parents and caregivers, the child or youth exhibiting aggressive behaviours, and siblings or other family members in the home who may be impacted.

Child and Youth Mental Health Support

Child and Youth Mental Health Support

Once you’ve recognized that your child or youth needs mental health support, the next step is finding help. We know that this can be a daunting process, so we’ve compiled information to help you navigate the child and youth mental health system, including some frequently asked questions.

CMHO – Find Help

CMHO – Find Help

Through our network of child and youth mental health centres, Children’s Mental Health Ontario has 4,000 child and youth mental health care workers across Ontario ready to help parents and their children. Search by area, age, and type of services required to find child and youth mental health services in your community.

Create a Safety Plan

Create a Safety Plan

When it comes to preparing for a mental health emergency, one helpful tip is to have a Family Safety Plan in place. Many families create a plan after the first time an emergency happens so that they know what to do if it happens again. But, if you are concerned that a crisis is possible or likely, it’s always helpful to be prepared.

Managing Crisis

Managing Crisis

A series of tips and resources to help you navigate things like knowing when to call 911 or what to expect if you go to a hospital. Read this article to learn more about managing a children’s mental health crisis.

Parenting Survival Guide

Parenting Survival Guide

Parenting kids is tough, but it is even more difficult when your child is struggling with mental illness. This guide focuses on you, the parents, with practical tips and information on how to prioritize your own wellness and start making things better for yourself and your family.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 1: You Are Not Alone

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 1: You Are Not Alone

It isn’t easy to be the parent of a child who is struggling with a mental health challenge. It can be exhausting and overwhelming—and there may be times when you feel incredibly alone. It’s important to know that you’re anything but alone.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 2: Managing Your Emotions

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 2: Managing Your Emotions

In this section, you’ll learn strategies for coping with the many emotions you may find yourself feeling right now. We’ll start out by talking about what you may be feeling and then discuss ways of making sense of and managing those emotions in a way that works for you.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 3: Making Things Better for Your Family

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 3: Making Things Better for Your Family

Learn about parenting strategies that tend to bring out the best—as opposed to the worst—in children who are struggling; ways of improving your ability to cope with stress; why it’s so important to take good care of yourself; and how learning to treat yourself with self-compassion can be a complete game-changer for yourself and your child.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 4: Advocating for Your Child

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 4: Advocating for Your Child

Wondering what it means to be an advocate—and how to do so in a way that actually makes a difference? In this section, you’ll learn why parents are such powerful advocates, how to amplify or be your child’s voice, how to get results, and how to troubleshoot any road bumps or roadblocks.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 5: Sibling Relationships

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 5: Sibling Relationships

Sibling relationships can be challenging, and the situation can be so much harder if one or more of those siblings is living with mental illness. If you’re the parent, you may feel stretched to the max, trying to ensure that everyone’s needs are met. This article shares some of what we’ve been learning from other parents about supporting healthy sibling relationships.

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 6: Dealing with Stigma

Parenting Survival Guide – Part 6: Dealing with Stigma

Mental health stigma involves treating people in a negative or discriminatory way because they are living with mental illness. This section shares some of what we’ve been learning from other families’ experiences dealing with stigma.

Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH) Peer Support Chapters

Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) Peer Support Chapters

Located in communities across Ontario, our chapters are made up of volunteer Chapter Leaders and parents and caregivers on their own journey of supporting their child with mental health needs. Our chapters meet regularly, providing parents and caregivers a safe and friendly place to connect with others, feel heard, and get help navigating the child and youth mental health system.

Prepare for a Mental Health Emergency

Prepare for a Mental Health Emergency

If you are concerned that an emergency regarding your child’s mental health is possible, it is better to be prepared. This article discusses when to call 911, how to prepare for a hospital visit, what to expect if you go to a hospital, and additional resources to learn more.

Ready for the Holidays

Ready for the Holidays

When your child is struggling with mental health challenges, the holidays are not always easy. With so many expectations about what the holidays should be like or who we should be spending our time with, it can be very difficult to make it all work. With the support of our network of child and youth mental health experts, we have rounded up some tips and ideas to help your family during the holiday season.

Recognizing Your Child Needs Help

Recognizing Your Child Needs Help

On this page, you will learn about mental health in children and youth, your family’s role, some common signs of mental health struggles in children and youth, and resources to start looking for help.I

School Mental Health Backpack

School Mental Health Backpack

Back-to-school can be a challenging time for many children, youth, and families. This toolkit provides resources and tips to support your child’s mental health in school, including topics like preparing for back-to-school, communicating with your child’s teacher, school relationships, school avoidance, and more.

School Mental Health Backpack: Acknowledge the Challenge

School Mental Health Backpack: Acknowledge the Challenge

Acknowledging any challenges your child and family might face in the upcoming school year will help you ensure that your expectations of your child are realistic, while remaining hopeful and optimistic.

School Mental Health Backpack: Ask a Child and Youth Mental Health Expert

School Mental Health Backpack: Ask a Child and Youth Mental Health Expert

Do you have questions about mental health and back-to-school? On this page, you can ask a child and youth mental health expert your question.

School Mental Health Backpack: Back-to-School Tips for Mental Health

School Mental Health Backpack: Back-to-School Tips for Mental Health

The start of the school year can be challenging for many kids. This page has tips and ideas from our child and youth mental health experts to help make your child’s transition back to school a little easier.

School Mental Health Backpack: Communicate with Your Child

School Mental Health Backpack: Communicate with Your Child

One of the most powerful ways you can support your child through the process of returning to school is by attempting to understand how they are feeling about the situation. This page offers some questions that might help to spark some important back-to-school conversations between you and your child.

School Mental Health Backpack: Communicate with Your Child's Teacher

School Mental Health Backpack: Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher

Once you’ve identified some specific challenges and worked with your child to identify some potential solutions, you’re ready to help your child to communicate their needs to their teacher and other key adults at the school. This page highlights some key points to keep in mind when you’re advocating with or on behalf of your child.

School Mental Health Backpack: School Avoidance

School Mental Health Backpack: School Avoidance

We understand how challenging it can be for families when a child doesn’t want to go to school. Our child and youth mental health experts share their top tips to help families whose children and youth are struggling with school avoidance.

School Mental Health Backpack: School Relationships

School Mental Health Backpack: School Relationships

Children who are dealing with social anxiety or other mental health concerns may find it extra challenging to make sense of the rules of friendships. They may require a little extra hands-on help in figuring out what it means to have or be a friend. This section contains tips on supporting that all-important relationship learning as kids prepare to reconnect with one another at school.

School Mental Health Backpack: Summer Ready

School Mental Health Backpack: Summer Ready

For parents and caregivers looking to get a head-start on helping their child prepare for back-to-school we asked our child and youth mental health workers for their advice on what steps you can take now to make things a little easier come September.

School Mental Health Backpack: Support Your Child's Mental Wellness

School Mental Health Backpack: Support Your Child’s Mental Wellness

Heading back to school is always a time of transition. Here are six tips to support your child’s mental wellness and help them prepare for the start of the school year.

Suicide and Self-Harm Resources

Suicide and Self-Harm Resources

This page offers tips on creating a safe environment at home, understanding non-suicidal self-injury, and links to other recommended resources to help you through this difficult time.

The Mental Health Act: Forms 1–4

The Mental Health Act: Forms 1–4

You may find yourself in the Emergency Department after things escalate at home. As a parent or caregiver, you want what is best for your child, but your child might not recognize that they need help. After being assessed in the Emergency Department, they may be cleared to go home. If your child meets the criteria listed on Form 1, you may ask your to doctor complete Form 1. This page is here to help you understand what these important forms are and how they can help you.

The Sibling Experience Supporting the Sibling(s) of a Child or Youth with Mental Health Challenges

The Sibling Experience Supporting the Sibling(s) of a Child or Youth with Mental Health Challenges

Sibling relationships can be great, and they can also be really difficult. They can become even more difficult if one of the siblings struggles with a mental health challenge. In this resource, we highlight what siblings may be experiencing, how to best support them, and where to go find help.

Understanding Anxiety: How to Support Your Child or Youth

Understanding Anxiety: How to Support Your Child or Youth

Coming soon!

Understanding Bullying and Managing its Impact

Understanding Bullying and Managing its Impact

Coming soon!

Understanding Gender, Sexuality, and Expression: Supporting Queer and Gender-Diverse Children and Youth

Understanding Gender, Sexuality, and Expression: Supporting Queer and Gender-Diverse Children and Youth

Coming soon!

Webinar: Aggression Toward Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence – Practical Strategies

Webinar: Aggression Toward Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence – Practical Strategies

This session provides a comprehensive overview of AFCCA, including its prevalence, the impact on families, and practical strategies to manage these behaviors while reducing stigma. Participants will explore therapeutic approaches and the importance of community support and hear from caregivers who have navigated these challenges.

Webinar: Beyond Sibling Rivalry – Supporting Siblings of Children or Youth with Mental Health Challenges

Webinar: Beyond Sibling Rivalry – Supporting Siblings of Children or Youth with Mental Health Challenges

In this insightful webinar, we delve into recognizing when sibling interactions go beyond typical rivalry, addressing the needs of multiple children, and creating effective safety plans at home. We provide tips on how to support each child with different needs, ensuring that siblings aren’t left behind when one child’s needs are more demanding.

Webinar: Body Image and Disordered Eating

Webinar: Body Image and Disordered Eating

This webinar covers challenges related to body image and disordered eating, recognizing when to be concerned, and fostering a healthy relationship with food and body image. Learn how to support children at home, communicate effectively based on age and ability, and discover available community resources.

Webinar: Caregivers Have Feelings Too – A Guide to Self Care

Webinar: Caregivers Have Feelings Too – A Guide to Self Care

This webinar shares strategies and resources to help parents and caregivers remain calm when supporting a child or youth experiencing emotional dysregulation.

Webinar: Co-Parenting a Child with Mental Illness

Webinar: Co-Parenting a Child with Mental Illness

This session introduces strategies to overcome common challenges in coparenting, drawing on the facilitators’ extensive experience addressing needs commonly identified by families. Participants will gain valuable insights to navigate and strengthen their co-parenting journey.

Webinar: Could it be FASD?

Webinar: Could it be FASD?

This session discusses how FASD presents itself, how it can be masked and misdiagnosed, and why a different approach is needed. Participants will learn how to recognize FASD and accommodate it effectively, gaining valuable insights into successful mental health interventions for children and youth living with FASD.

Webinar: FASD and Mental Health – A Fireside Chat with Providers and People with Lived Experience

Webinar: FASD and Mental Health – A Fireside Chat with Providers and People with Lived Experience

This session explores the prevalence and challenges of FASD, the importance of accurate diagnosis, and innovative approaches to care. Participants will gain valuable insights into supporting the mental health of individuals with FASD and their caregivers, addressing stigma, and fostering community capacity for better care, leaving with actionable strategies and a deeper understanding.

Webinar: Finding Balance Parenting Young Adults with Mental Health Concerns

Webinar: Finding Balance Parenting Young Adults with Mental Health Concerns

Parents Jenn and Louise share their lived expertise and strategies that help them balance the delicate balance in their relationship with their young adults, ages 18+, with mental health challenges.

Webinar: Fireside Chat with Grandparent Caregivers

Webinar: Fireside Chat with Grandparent Caregivers

In this webinar, you will hear firsthand from a panel of grandparent caregivers about their experiences of raising their grandchildren. We go into the complexities of navigating this change in role, relationships between your children and grandchildren, creating boundaries and self-care tips. This session provides valuable insights and practical tips to help grandparents in their unique caregiving journey.

Webinar: Gender, Sexuality, and Breaking the Binary

Webinar: Gender, Sexuality, and Breaking the Binary

Christa Duval from Pflag Canada shares information to help parents and caregivers understand the difference between gender and sexuality. She also shares strategies on how to provide gender-affirming care to LGBTQIA+ children and youth experiencing gender dysphoria, gender transition, or identity changes that relate to their gender or sexuality.

Webinar: Grieving is Part of the Journey

Webinar: Grieving is Part of the Journey

This session addresses the emotional journey of parenting a child or youth with mental illness and the importance of recognizing and grieving the hopes and plans that may no longer be possible. Participants will learn supportive strategies to navigate the grief and challenges often experienced by parents and caregivers in these situations, fostering resilience and understanding along the way.

Webinar: How To Effectively Advocate For Your Child or Youth With Mental Illness

Webinar: How To Effectively Advocate For Your Child or Youth With Mental Illness

In this webinar with Peter Ostrowski, a parent with 12 years of lived experience in mental health, you will learn how to effectively advocate for your child or youth with mental illness. This session provides valuable insights and practical strategies, drawing from Peter’s extensive personal journey and his years of volunteering to support and improve the experience for others on a similar path.

Webinar: How to Understand and Support Kids with "Leaky Brakes"

Webinar: How to Understand and Support Kids with “Leaky Brakes”

Becky Mathieu, Community Behaviour Consultant from the Child Parent Resource Institute, speaks about how to understand your child or youth’s inability to use their “brakes” (i.e., regulate their emotions or behaviours as it may relate to disinhibition disorders such as ADHD, Tourette’s, or OCD).

Webinar: Leaky Brakes – What They Are and What They Aren't

Webinar: Leaky Brakes – What They Are and What They Aren’t

In this engaging webinar with the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI), we dive into an overview of Tourette Syndrome and its associated “leaky brakes” (i.e., ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, etc.).

Webinar: Learning Disabilities, ADHD & Advocacy

Webinar: Learning Disabilities, ADHD & Advocacy

Empower yourself with the knowledge and resources to better support your child’s unique learning journey! This engaging and informative session on understanding and supporting children with Learning Disabilities (LDs) is led by two LD specialists.

Webinar: Let's Talk Substance Use

Webinar: Let’s Talk Substance Use

Join us in exploring the current substance use landscape in Canada, including youth trends, factors influencing youth substance use, risks, and strategies to reduce harm. We will also examine best practices for parents and professionals to discuss drug use with young people in Canada to reduce the stigma surrounding these conversations.

Webinar: Safety – The Essential Ingredient to Healing

Webinar: Safety – The Essential Ingredient to Healing

This session was designed for CAS Care Providers completing specific curriculum through OACAS and aims to lay the foundation for initiating a peer support group for CAS Care Providers. Participants will gain insights into fostering safety as a cornerstone for effective healing and support.

Webinar: Skills and Hope – A DBT Program for Families

Webinar: Skills and Hope – A DBT Program for Families

Learn about the challenges of emotional dysregulation, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and how the Sashbear Foundation and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can support families. Gain insights into the Family Connections program and practical tools to foster supportive family relationships.

Webinar: Supporting and Advocating for your Child with Families for Addictions Recovery

Webinar: Supporting and Advocating for your Child with Families for Addictions Recovery

In this session, we talk about supporting and advocating for children and youth with mental health and substance use challenges, including peer support, advocacy strategies, and practical tools to foster understanding and communication. Participants gain insights into addiction, harm reduction, and advocating for improved resources.

Webinar: The IEP – Meeting Individual Student Needs

Webinar: The IEP – Meeting Individual Student Needs

This session explores the definition and purpose of an IEP, who qualifies, and its key components such as accommodations, modifications, and assessments, providing strategies for effective advocacy and communication with educators. Participants will gain insights into navigating transitions between educational stages to empower families on this journey.

Webinar: The IEP in High School

Webinar: The IEP in High School

This session provides helpful tips on preparing for IPRC meetings with the school and discusses key aspects of the IEP. Participants will gain insights into understanding the jargon often used during these meetings, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the process effectively.

Webinar: The Truth About Lying

Webinar: The Truth About Lying

This session explores evidence-based insights from Dr. Talwar’s extensive research and practical guidance from her book The Truth about Lying: Teaching Honesty to Children at Every Age and Stage. Participants will gain valuable strategies for fostering honesty in children and learn how to better understand the developmental aspects of lying.

Webinar: Tic, Tic, Boom – ADHD

Webinar: Tic, Tic, Boom – ADHD

In this webinar with the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI), we delve into the topic of emotional dysregulation. This session will introduce helpful strategies and de-escalation techniques to prevent meltdowns in various settings and explore Dr. Greene’s Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) problem-solving model.

Webinar: Understanding Aggression Toward Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA)

Webinar: Understanding Aggression Toward Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA)

This session explores evidence-based insights and lived family experiences to foster a deeper understanding of aggression towards family and caregivers. We highlight recent research findings, emphasize the importance of recognizing a family’s unique needs and strengths, and offer practical strategies for families to consider in navigating these challenges.

Webinar: Understanding and Managing Screen Time

Webinar: Understanding and Managing Screen Time

This session provides helpful strategies to foster meaningful conversations, set boundaries, and establish limits to help tweens and teens balance screen time, social media, and online activities.

Winter Mental Health Tips

Winter Mental Health Tips

Winter is a time of year when many of us start to feel the mental health impacts (such as sleep disturbances, low interest in activities, fatigue, and irritability) of having less exposure to daylight. Recognizing that winter may be a difficult time for a lot of families across the province, especially those whose children have mental health challenges, CMHO has rounded up some expert tips to help you through the season.

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline

A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you are feeling like you have lost hope and are struggling to cope, if you are dealing with thoughts of suicide, or if you are worried about someone else, 9-8-8 is here for you. When you reach out, a trained responder will listen without judgement, provide support and understanding, and can tell you about resources that will help.

Adoption Council of Ontario – Pathways to Permanence Program

Adoption Council of Ontario – Pathways to Permanence Program

A program designed for adoptive, kindship, and customary care families in Ontario who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss. The program empowers parents and caregivers to apply tools and techniques to effectively parent their children and help them heal.

Anxiety Canada

Anxiety Canada

A registered charity and non-profit organization created to raise awareness about anxiety and support access to proven resources and treatment. They are a leader in developing free, online self-help and evidence-based tools to help manage anxiety.

BounceBack® Program

BounceBack® Program

A free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth aged 15+ manage low mood, depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

CanFASD

CanFASD

A collaborative, interdisciplinary research network, with researchers and partners across the nation. It is Canada’s first comprehensive national Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) research network.

Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada

Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada

CADDAC is a national charity providing leadership in awareness, education, and advocacy for ADHD across Canada. CADDAC’s programs support parents and individuals affected by ADHD. Key programs and initiatives include CADDAC’s Executive Functioning program, group coaching programs, resource navigator program, educational events, awareness initiatives, and advocacy initiatives.

Child and Parent Resource Institute – Leaky Brakes (Disinhibition Disorders)

Child and Parent Resource Institute – Leaky Brakes (Disinhibition Disorders)

CPRI offers tools for the effective psychotherapeutic treatment of Tourette syndrome and associated disorders or leaky brakes, which are presented in streaming video format.

Child Mind Institute

Child Mind Institute

An independent, nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. CMI explores the concerns and challenges most commonly discussed by parents and provide expert guidance on how to respond in the most effective way. Visit their website to find a series of parent guides covering a broad range of topics, from the basics on children’s mental health and learning disorders to advice for parents handling common challenges.

Community Education Services

Community Education Services

Provides educational courses and skills training workshops to the community on a variety of topics, including parenting, child development and child and youth mental health concerns. Programs are available for children, youth and caregivers, and are held regularly at locations across the Greater Hamilton Area (GHA).

Drug Free Kids Canada – Parent Support Hub

Drug Free Kids Canada – Parent Support Hub

The Parent Support Hub at Drug Free Kids Canada gives you immediate, free access to care representatives who are available 24/7 to answer your questions and concerns about your child’s drug use, guiding you to relevant resources and immediate or schedule short term counselling tailored to your needs.

Families for Addiction Recovery

Families for Addiction Recovery

A national charity founded by parents of children who struggle or have struggled with problematic substance use associated with a concurrent mental health disorder. FAR offers free national, parent-to-parent support families struggling with addiction, privately by phone. If you are in the Toronto area, FAR also offers a free parent support group.

FASD ONE

FASD ONE

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) is a group that works together to address issues related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the province. FASD ONE is working to respond to emerging issues, changing environment, and available resources by focusing on priorities related to gaps or challenges associated with this complex disability.

Interwoven Connections (formerly Adopt4Life)

Interwoven Connections (formerly Adopt4Life)

Interwoven Connections provides education, advocacy, and community to the tapestry of families connected by adoption, kinship, and customary care relationships, as well as those at risk of breakdown because of complex needs, and the professionals who support them. We seek innovative ways to ensure family preservation, where every member of the family has what they need to grow and belong.

Kids Help Phone – Resources for Caring Adults

Kids Help Phone – Resources for Caring Adults

Kids Help Phone offers a mental health hub with over 400 resources including videos, games, and tools to help young people learn more about their well-being and Feel Out Loud. It’s also a space where folks can join our movement in support of youth mental health across Canada. Browse articles, tools and tips developed to help parents, caregivers, educators, and other caring adults support the young people in their lives.

Offord Centre for Child Studies

Offord Centre for Child Studies

The Offord Centre has a series of information pamphlets on child and youth mental health problems. The pamphlets cover the eight most common mental health problems, including anxiety, autism, attention problems, behaviour problems, eating disorders, mood problems, substance use, and Tourette Syndrome. The pamphlets have been developed and reviewed by experts in each field, and are available in French and English.

One Stop Talk

One Stop Talk

One Stop Talk offers children and youth (aged 0-17 years) immediate access to free mental health support when and how they need them. The program provides single-session counselling support and ensures direct referral to additional services when needed. Services are provided through an integrated network of infant, child and youth mental health agencies across Ontario.

Ontario Early Years Centres

Ontario Early Years Centres

Ontario Early Years Centres are funded by the Ministry of Education and are places where parents and caregivers can take part with their children in a range of programs and activities, get answers to questions, get information about programs and services that are available for young children and their families, and talk to early years professionals as well as parents and caregivers in the community.

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program

These services are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is collaborative, goal-focused, and involves light reading and sessions with a trained mental health professional. OSP offers FREE and convenient services in multiple languages for adults (18+) to better manage low mood, stress or anxiety, and is available in-person and virtually.

Partners for Planning

Partners for Planning

A national non-profit organization that supports people with a developmental disability and their families to be proactive in planning for the future. P4P was founded in 2009, by families and for families, to help answer the question “Who will love and protect our sons and daughters when we no longer can?” Find a Family Support Network in your community!

pflag Canada

pflag Canada

pflag Canada works with 2SLGBTQ+ communities including families, friends, allies and loved ones, to provide peer support, education, and advocacy. They want a supporting, just, and caring country for the evolving 2SLGBTQ+ community, including all sexual and gender orientations and expressions.

PLEO

PLEO

PLEO is a non-profit family support organization for parents and caregivers whose children (up to age 24) are dealing with mental health and/or addiction challenges. The organization is staffed with parents who have supported their own children with these challenges. PLEO offers several support groups across Ontario, as well as a confidential telephone helpline, and an extensive library of resources.

Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) – Parent Support Group

Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) – Parent Support Group

A community-focused mental health program located in London, Ontario at the London Health Sciences Centre. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be experiencing an episode of psychosis, PEPP aims to provide you with prompt support.

School Mental Health Ontario

School Mental Health Ontario

A provincial implementation support team that helps school districts enhance student mental health through the use of evidence-informed strategies and services. Find out about resources available to Ontario parents and caregivers and learn key facts about children’s mental health.

SickKids – About Kids Health

SickKids – About Kids Health

Experts at SickKids have developed a new mental health resource that provides credible, plain language content on children’s mental health. Parents, teachers, and healthcare providers can use this comprehensive educational tool to obtain information and support throughout the mental health journey. The resource includes evidence-based information on a range of topics.

Sickkids – About Kids Health – Teens: Gender and Identity Resources

Sickkids – About Kids Health – Teens: Gender and Identity Resources

Resources to answer questions you may have on gender, sex, and sexual orientation as well as how to find support and resources when you need them.

The Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions Resource Hub

The Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions Resource Hub

The Knowledge Institute supports Ontario’s agencies, communities, and decision-makers to ensure the best mental health and well-being for every child, young person, and family. The resource hub includes policy papers, reports, toolkits, and much more.

The National Consortium on Aggression Towards Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA)

The National Consortium on Aggression Towards Family and Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA)

The Consortium helps to increase awareness of AFCCA across Canada, amplify the voices of youth and their families, and mobilize knowledge in ways that affect policy, systems, services, research, and professional practice to improve the lives of youth experiencing AFCCA and their families.

The Sashbear Foundation – Family Connections

The Sashbear Foundation – Family Connections

Family ConnectionsTM (FC) is an evidence-based 24-hour group program for people who are in a relationship with someone who has emotion dysregulation or related problems. It is provided free of charge to participants. It provides skills, support, and hope for family members or friends of someone with emotion dysregulation, to regain balance in their lives.

Youth Gambling Awareness Program

Youth Gambling Awareness Program

A free service funded by the Government of Ontario offering educational prevention programs to youth and adults involved in young people’s lives on gambling awareness including potential risks, making informed decisions, and healthy and active living.