Children’s mental health discussed

 
One in five Ontario children suffer from some type of mental health issue.

That's according to Children's Centre Foundation Thunder Bay, which hosted a round table discussion with community leaders and mental health and service agencies Friday.

Raija Begall knows all too well the struggles that many youth have with mental health. Seven years ago she was diagnosed with Anorexia. She says the pressures that today's youth face from peers and the media can often be too much to bear alone.

She adds that parents, teachers and coaches can all help combat the negative images that kids are subjected to everyday.

Begall released a book on the subject in 2008, called Breaking Up With ED.

ED being an acronym for eating disorder, and Friday about 60 community members turned out to hear her, and speak about mental health problems among children and youth. It's something Children's Centre Executive Director Tom Walters says is becoming more and more of an issue.

Walters says there just aren't enough resources to deal with the issue, citing that about 200 children and youth are often placed on a list that forces them to wait up to a year to get help with issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Walters insists preventative action can help eliminate many potential problems. He adds that he'd like to see mental health services and education made available right where kids already are – schools and daycares.