Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health

06/04/2026

📣 Your experience matters!

Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health (PCMH) is conducting a province-wide evaluation to better understand how we can support families across Ontario.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional, your experiences navigating and providing child and youth mental health services are incredibly valuable, even if you haven’t accessed PCMH supports directly.

🎁 As a thank you, parents/caregivers can enter to win one of two $50 gift cards
👉 Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PCMH-Evaluation

06/02/2026

Join us tomorrow, June 3rd at 7:00pm EDT, as we talk about children's mental health! In this webcast, we'll explore how to identify signs of mental health challenges, discover valuable resources, and navigate available support to help strengthen your family's journey forward. Thank you to P4P Planning Network for having us as guests!

A live Q&A will follow the webcast with our panel of experts connected to Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health(PCMH), formerly known as Parents for Children’s Mental Health.
Register today: https://conta.cc/3IZzRRm

05/26/2026

Join us on June 3rd for an interesting conversation about the intersection of disability and mental health. Thank you P4P Planning Network for hosting us in this conversation!

Talking about children’s mental health is crucial for the child’s wellbeing and the wellbeing of their family. Join us on June 3rd at 7pm EDT for an open conversation about the intersection of disability and mental health that can break through the stigma, making it easier for you and your family to seek help when it’s needed.

Register today: https://conta.cc/3IZzRRm

A panel of experts connected to Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health (PCMH), formerly known as Parents for Children’s Mental Health, will offer practical strategies, resources, and insights to help you get the conversation started and navigate these challenges with confidence.

A live Q&A will follow the webcast - you don't want to miss it!

Children's Mental Health Ontario

Image Description: A colourful brain crafted from layers of paper cutouts, with each cutout representing a different brain area. Surrounding it are thought bubbles, creating imagery of an open conversation about mental health. The text reads, "Free P4P Webcast. Talking About Children's Mental Health. June 3 at 7pm."

05/06/2026

Connection strengthens mental health! Not only for our kids, but for us too! Connect and share ideas about how to support our kids in connecting with others at our Caregiver Connection groups.

Connection changes outcomes.

Young people who feel connected to home or school are up to 66% less likely to experience health-risk behaviours and have better mental health later in life.

Learn more at cmho.org/childrens-mental-health-week/

03/07/2026

Join us in learning more about anxiety with Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca Social Worker, Denise Almeida. We will talk about how to recognize when anxiety might be getting in the way of your child or youth’s everyday life, how to support them and yourself, and where to find help.

This webinar will be available on-demand. Individuals who register will receive the webinar recording link directly in their inbox so you can watch at your convenience.

📅 Register by Monday, March 9
🔗 Register here: bit.ly/4lbBrOM

03/06/2026

The future of child and youth mental health won’t be built in silos.

It will be interwoven — across systems, sectors, and lived experience.

Join Children's Mental Health Ontario in Toronto on April 20–21, 2026 for Interwoven: Co-Creating the Future of Child and Youth Mental Health, featuring keynote speaker Cindy Blackstock and 40+ workshops spanning virtual care, neurodivergence, trauma-informed practice, youth justice, caregiver support, and more.

This is a space to learn, connect, challenge, and reimagine what’s possible — together.

⏰ Don’t miss out! Early bird pricing ends today, March 6.
🔗 View the program and register: bit.ly/CMHO-Conference-2026

02/24/2026

Join our FASD London Caregiver Connection group for a special virtual session with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) consultant and educator Nancy Lockwood.

Join FASD consultant/educator Nancy Lockwood for a discussion on the importance of financial and estate planning and building circles of care for people with FASD. Nancy will share practical tips and resources collected through decades of experience supporting people with FASD and their families.

The session will also include an overview of P4P Planning Network's Ontario edition of the Safe and Secure book and worksheets.

When: Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm ET
Where: Virtual on Zoom

🔗Register here: bit.ly/4qf4HoF

02/18/2026

We are thrilled to announce that PCMH has rebranded with a new name and refreshed look!

Beginning in 2026, PCMH (formerly Parents for Children’s Mental Health) is now known as Parents and Caregivers for Mental Health.

This subtle yet meaningful change was made to better reflect who we are and who we serve, strengthening support for children, youth, and families across Ontario.

PCMH remains a steady, supportive community built on empathy, understanding, and connection. We’re grateful to continue walking alongside families navigating mental health challenges, now with a refreshed identity that reflects the strength and resilience of the community we serve.

To read more about this important update, visit our blog: https://www.family.cmho.org/pcmh-introduces-new-name-and-refreshed-look/

02/07/2026

Children and youth in Ontario continue to face significant mental health needs, and where they live or their family’s income can directly impact their access to care.

Did you know:
⚠️ 35% of children and youth have unmet mental health needs
⚠️ 1 in 4 hospitalizations for children and youth is for mental health reasons
⚠️ Waits for counselling can exceed 120 days
⚠️ In parts of Northern Ontario, wait times can reach up to 600 days
⚠️ Children from lower-income neighbourhoods are hospitalized for mental health at double the rate

Families across Ontario are feeling these pressures every day. We’re sharing Children's Mental Health Ontario’s call for a targeted, multi-year investment to ensure fair and competitive compensation for the community child and youth mental health workforce, because children and youth deserve access to care without long delays or disruptions.

📖 Read CMHO’s 2026 Pre-Budget Submission to learn more and consider sharing:
cmho.org/pre-budget-submission-2026

Vijay Thanigasalam

02/05/2026

Ontario’s child and youth mental health system has started to stabilize, but for many families, it still doesn’t feel sustainable. Ensuring fair and competitive pay for community mental health professionals is an important next step to help keep skilled workers in their roles and ensure children and youth can access timely, consistent support.

Children's Mental Health Ontario is calling on the Ontario government to make a targeted, multi-year investment to close compensation gaps within the community child and youth mental health workforce. Supporting and retaining qualified professionals helps reduce wait times and prevent disruptions in care that families rely on.

As part of this network, we’re sharing this work because we want to see a stronger system where children, youth, and caregivers can access the care they need, when they need it.

Read the 2026 Pre-Budget Submission: https://cmho.org/pre-budget-submission-2026

Vijay Thanigasalam