Studies show that learning about mental health and how to support your child can:
- improve your ability to notice signs of a mental health problem (Davidson, 2019)
- make it easier to recognize the need for professional help (Cormier et al, 2020)
- help you to offer effective support, which is linked to improved well-being for your child (Green et al, 2024)
In addition, students have told us that they want their parents/ caregivers to learn more about mental health – it was one of the key recommendations from the HearNowON 2021 student voice report, that “students want the adults in their lives to be well informed about mental health to better support them at school, in their homes and communities”. (HearNowON 2021)
It can be hard to know how you can best support your child’s mental health, and just as challenging to know how to help when you notice concerns. The By Your Side parent/caregiver hub was developed by Ontario mental health professionals, school staff, and parents/caregivers to support you in this. To provide a trusted space for you to find identity-affirming, culturally responsive, evidence-informed resources about child and youth mental health and addictions.
We know that It’s not always easy to know what to do, or where to go.