A regional youth mental health services organization wants people to go for green.
The Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) is promoting its #GETGREEN campaign in advance of an annual awareness week.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario has declared May 3-9 to be Children’s Mental Health Week.
At the same time, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is promoting national Mental Health Week (May 4-10).
A ROCK representative says #GETGREEN is a social movement aimed at garnering awareness of children’s mental health issues.
“This challenge will ask social media users to use Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to share photographs of themselves doing something to get green,” said Kirsten Dougherty, ROCK’s director of people, culture and sustainability.
“Whether people are painting their nails green, putting a green dye in their hair or even putting on some green face paint, they can share the image to help get the message out,” added Dougherty.
Current attempts to get Halton’s two main school boards involved in the cause is important, says Dougherty.
“Children and teenagers are the most active portion of the population on social media. By involving this age group we will greatly further our exposure.”
ROCK is hoping to engage as many schools as possible in the #GETGREEN campaign for at least one day next week. They would encourage parents of participating students to donate a toonie to the cause.
The ROCK Foundation will divide the funds raised among other organizations involved in mental health awareness.
ROCK is creating separate #GETGREEN Twitter and Instagram accounts and a Facebook page to share photographs of people participating in the campaign.
There is also a website (www.getgreenformentalhealth.com) for information about the challenge and how to donate to it.
ROCK provides services to infants and youth up to the age of 17 — residential services are available up to age 21 — for those at risk of or experiencing symptoms of emotional issues or mental illness.
According to the CMHA website, 3.2 million Canadians between the ages of 12-19 are at risk of developing depression.
Suicide accounts for 24 per cent of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16 per cent among 25-44 year olds.
In Canada, only 1-in-5 children who need mental health services receives them, says the CMHA.
The CMHA website states, “A complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors causes mental illnesses” but that it “can be treated effectively.”
The Reach Out Centre for Kids provides services to 15,000 families, with a projected 50 per cent increase in demand for children’s mental health services by the year 2020.
ROCK’s main office is at 471 Pearl St. in downtown Burlington. It also has offices in Oakville and Milton.
In response to the increased demand for services, particularly that it is now designated as a lead services agency, ROCK has planned a 20,000-square-foot, three-storey expansion at its Pearl Street location.
The $6 million expansion project budget is about half funded with the goal to build as soon as possible, said Dougherty.
Some of ROCK’s large service and funding partners include the City of Burlington, Halton Region, the United Way, the Trillium Foundation and the provincial ministries of health, education and children and youth services.
ROCK’s operating budget for 2015-16 is approximately $9.8M. The biggest contributor is the Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth Services at $5.3M.
ROCK has been providing mental health services since 1974. It began as the Children’s Assessment and Treatment Centre and merged with Halton Adolescent Support Services in 2002.
In 2006, it was renamed the Reach Out Centre for Kids.
In 2008, it was joined by The Burlington Family Resource Centre to provide Early Years programming.
ROCK’s services include no appointment walk-in clinics at its three Halton offices, general consultation, family and individual therapy, psychological and diagnostic assessment, group therapy/parenting, intensive child and family service, 14-hour crisis response, court assessment, behavioural consultation and intervention, occupational therapy and residential services.
Its staff includes early childhood educators (ECEs), occupational therapists, child and youth workers, crisis counselors, social workers, psychologists and therapists.
ROCK’s Centre of Learning has expanded internships this past year, providing eight post-graduate degree interns the opportunity for clinical experience and supervision through ROCK.
As well, the centre is the lead in a province-wide evaluation of walk-in therapy clinics and single-session brief services at seven children’s mental health centres across Ontario.
For more information about ROCK, visit http://rockonline.ca.
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