Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions Guide

138 Pages·2013·2.95 MB·English

HALTON
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Table of Contents

Section 1
Introduction
Section 2
Mental Health Disorders/Illnesses
Section 3
Crisis Services
Section 4
Finding Support
Section 5
Financial/Legal
Section 6
How to Advocate for Your Child
Section 7
Special Education
Section 8
Website Resources
Section 9
Glossary of Terms

Appendix – What to Expect When Navigating the Child
and Youth Mental Health System

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 1

Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Disclaimer
The material in this resource guide is intended to help families, caregivers, and members of the
community assist navigating and understanding the child and youth mental health system. It will
hopefully help you to understand mental illness, the support services and resources available for
children and their families, and how you can advocate for better support and acceptance from the
community and your child’s school. By its nature, this resource guide provides information about
all of these topics, but is not a complete review of the issues raised or services available for the
support and treatment of children’s mental health problems. This resource guide is current to
March 2013.
The resource guide is for general reference, and is intended to help connect to other, more
complete sources of information about supports and resources available. The guide is not intended
to cover every possible issue that you may encounter when struggling with children and youth
mental health problems.
The resource guide should not be relied on as legal advice or a professional opinion. You may
contact Children’s Mental Health Ontario or EMental Health.ca for more information about services
in the province and your local community. If you have a question about your legal rights, you may
wish to consult a lawyer.

Copyright© Parents for Children’s Mental Health. All rights reserved.

Resource Guide Committee
Sarah Cannon, Executive Director, Parents for Children’s Mental Health
Sue Brooks, Co-ordinator, Halton Student Support Leadership Initiative
Darlene Wierski-Devoe, Family Engagement Co-ordinator, ROCK
Tony McKee, Co-Facilitator, PCMH Family Support Group, Burlington
Erika Norris, Public Health Nurse, Halton Regional Health Department

To access resources in the Halton Region visit:
www.ementalhealth.ca or call 211

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 2
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Welcome to Holland
©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people
who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like
this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a
bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David.
The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go.
Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to
Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in
Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of
pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And
you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been
there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that
Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a
wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was
supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very,
very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to
enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 3
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Who Is This Guide For?
As families, Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH -
1 in 5 children in Ontario see below) recognizes that child and youth mental
between the ages of 3 and 17 illnesses are among the least talked about yet one of the
most common childhood problems today. In our vastly
have a diagnosable mental health
varied experiences, we have found that one of the most
disorder. 3/5 or about 300,000
common problems families face raising a child with a
of them have more than one
mental illness or mental health disorder is the lack of
disorder. information and understanding available for those seeking
(Source: Children’s Mental Health Ontario) services and resources in their communities.

Another common statement made by families is they experience a lack of support in their
community, potentially due to ignorance, intolerance or disbelief. It is our sincere hope that
families, educators and caregivers will benefit from this combined collection of child and youth
mental health information, services and supports available to you and your family. It is the goal of
this guide to share with families some information to enable them to find the answers and
assistance they so desperately need.
Who is this guide for?
• Families/caregivers who are struggling with their child/youth’s mental health concerns at
home or school
• Families/caregivers seeking emotional and/or financial support
• Families seeking advice regarding school concerns
• Families who suspect something is the matter, but don’t know where to start
• Families/caregivers not sure what mental illness means, or how to go about getting help
• Families/caregivers seeking to support or advocate for their special needs child

What Is Parents For Children’s Mental Health (PCMH)?

Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) is the only family-led, Ontario Provincial, non-profit
organization that provides a voice for families who face the challenges of child and youth mental
illness and mental health disorders. PCMH provides support, education and empowerment by
linking networks of families, communities, agencies and government. PCMH believes in the
promotion of family centred care and principles of care. PCMH envisions a future in which children
and youth with mental illness enjoy a high quality of life in welcoming and supportive communities.
For more information about PCMH, please visit the provincial website at www.pcmh.ca.

To access resources in th e Halton Region visit:
www.ementalheal th.ca or call 211

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 4
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness and mental health disorders are not easy to define. Misunderstandings lead to
misuse and abuse of the terms, reinforce myths, and even prevent people from getting help when
it is really needed.
In general, mental illness refers to clinically significant patterns of behavioural or emotional
functioning that are associated with some level of distress, suffering (pain, death), or impairment in
one or more areas of functioning (such as school, work, or social and family interactions). The
basis of this impairment is a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction, or a combination
of these. (Definition: Canadian Psychiatric Association)

What is Mental Health?

Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-
being component included in the WHO's definition of health: "A state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease". It is related to the promotion of well-
being, the prevention of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected
by mental disorders. (Definition: World Health Organization)

When our son was first diagnosed we were in denial

and gradually found ourselves more and more
isolated from family and friends. Finding the
support of others who had walked our journey
before us gave us the belief that this was not a
challenge that could not be overcome. We are lucky
enough to see our son now thriving, and we owe

much of that to the support we have received from
other families and the knowledge they were able to

share with us. (Member, PCMH)

To access resources in the Halton Region visit:
www.ementalhea lth.ca or call 211

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 5
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Signs and Symptoms of Children’s Mental Health Issues
The way a child thinks, feels and behaves may be a sign that he or she needs help with a mental
health problem. It can sometimes be difficult to decide if a child is acting “appropriately” for his or
her age or if the child does, in fact, have a mental health need.

Although many children and youth will show some of the following characteristics and behaviours
at various times during normal childhood development, it is the degree and frequency to which
these characteristics effect their day-to-day living.

This list serves as a guide and is by no means complete.

Signs & Symptoms

• declining grades, multiple • physical complaints

suspensions/expulsions (headaches, stomach aches)

• persistent nightmares • severe worry and anxiety

• avoiding friends and family • stop caring about appearance

• outbursts of anger and rage • obsession /preoccupation with weight
• hyperactivity or low energy • decreased energy and motivation

• decreased appetite • hitting or bullying other children

• difficulty sleeping • trying to injure self

• rebelling against authority • mood swings
• abusing alcohol or drugs • personality changes

• stop doing things used to enjoy • threatening to run away

• damaging others' property

Links
 or
 Useful
 Resources
 for
 SIGNS
 AND
 SYMPTOMS:

Children’s
 Mental
 Health
 Ontario
 -­‐
 www.kidsmentalhealth.ca/parents/resources_parents.php

eMental
 Health:
 www.ementalhealth.ca

Parents
 For
 Children’s
 Mental
 Health
 -­‐
 www.pcmh.ca

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 6
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Psychological Assessments

If you are asked to have an assessment performed on your child, we feel you should be aware of
the benefits of having one done. It is a tool to help you decide the best course of action for the best
interests of your child. It can be a relief to know the true nature of the difficulty you are presented
with or to have a diagnosis for a variety of reasons:
• you can do your own research on the subject
• you can join a local support group of peers experiencing similar issues
• you may benefit from proven strategies at home and school
• you can help educate other friends, family members about the subject
• you may be eligible for special services or funding
There are a number of different psychological assessments. It is important to do your research
and understand the nature of the assessment that has been recommended to you.
Your child’s school may suggest a psycho-educational* or psychological assessment to be done
and refer you to their team. For most school boards there is a waiting list for these types of
assessments, you will want to know what the expected wait list is for your child to receive the
assessment through your school board as there are other options such as having your own
assessment done privately. You can expect to pay anywhere from $800 - $4,000 to have this
assessment completed privately. Some benefits and/or Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
include coverage for such assessments, it will be important for you to explore whether coverage is
available through your work.

Finding a Therapist: The Ontario Psychological Association can direct you to local therapists, as
should your family doctor or pediatrician.

Links
 or
 Useful
 Resources:

S ee
 “Finding A Therapist”
 page
 under
 Finding
 Support

Canadian
 Academy
 of
 Psychologists
 in
 Disability
 Assessment
 –
 www.capda.ca

Finding
 a
 Therapist
 -­‐
 www.mooddisorders.ca

 –
 1-­‐888-­‐486-­‐8236

O ntario
 Psychological
 Association
 –
 www.psych.on.ca

 -­‐
 click
 on
 referral
 service
 or
 1-­‐800-­‐268-­‐0069

See
 “What
 You
 Can
 Expect
 from
 a
 Mental
 Health
 Professional
 –

www.cymhin.ca/downloads/What%20to%expect.pdf
 –
 Child
 and
 Youth
 Mental
 Health
 Information
 Network

( CYMHIN)

The
 Association
 of
 Chief
 Psychologists
 with
 Ontario
 School
 Boards
 –
 www.acposb.on.ca

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 7
Children & Youth Mental Health & Addictions
A Guide for Families
Prepared by Parents for Children’s Mental Health©

Now You Have a Diagnosis
If your child has just been diagnosed, don’t panic! There
“Even though we received this are other people who understand what you are going
news about our child, our child is through. There are also sources of information, which can
help you handle problems now and in the future.
the very same one we loved
yesterday, a diagnosis has not A first step would be to find and join a local support group.
changed that. We love the gifts Talking to other families experiencing similar difficulties can
help you get perspective. They will often have resources
that are also a part of his
such as books and videos that will help to answer your
disability.”
burning questions.
They can be a wonderful source of possible new friends for
your child and for families/caregivers also. It is comforting to be around other people who “get it”.
Don’t forget to utilize local libraries and the internet to help with your research.
The diagnosis however is only the first step in what can potentially be a long journey. Like any
journey, it will be important for you to prepare for the trip and ensure you provide yourself, your
family, friends, and networks the supplies, tools, and other items necessary to navigate your
journey successfully.
You will also need to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and if you are not taking care
of you, success will be limited. Self-care is as important as effective care and treatment for your
loved one, and their success will largely depend on your capacity to cope, advocate, and support
them. You will not be able to do that effectively if you are not taking care of you too!

To access resources in the Halton Region visit:

www.ementalhealth.ca or call 211

Last update: 22-Apr-13 www.pcmh.ca 8