Children's Mental Health Blog

“You just don’t understand”. “My parents don’t get it”. “No one knows how I’m feeling”.

Taken at face value, these statements make it seem like youth are pushing us away or being anti-social. Under the surface though is a driving need for connection and validation. For many youth, music meets both of these needs.

We may find ourselves, our coworkers and our friends and families having trouble coping. Globally, we are all experiencing the affects of COVID-19 in some capacity. Here are four ways to manage your mental health during a pandemic.

Mental health can be a scary topic for some to discuss. There can be unknowns regarding mental wellness and in some ways, the subject has only more recently been embraced by society. For youth, discussing this may be intimidating as they may feel that they lack specialized knowledge or experience to begin a conversation about this important subject

Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming identities are becoming more visible. Such people have always been with us; however, there has been growing acceptance and recognition that these ways of being are legitimate and worthy of celebrating.

How do you feel about Math? If I told you that you needed to take a Math test tomorrow what would your response be? A lot of people would be experiencing feelings of panic, fear, and dread at the thought of this and if that is how you feel, you are not alone!

Climate change anxiety in young clients has increased over the years. Fear is an adaptive emotion; it is there to help keep us safe in the face of danger. But when the danger feels large and unchangeable, it can lead to feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed. Here are four ways to address climate change anxiety in children.

When Kyle "Stew" Stewart was a student in one of Lutherwood’s Day Treatment programs, he didn’t immediately realize the impact it would have on his life.

As the province ramps up its vaccination efforts once again, it can bring about a range of emotions, especially for youth. It could bring excitement that there is now a more clear path for the return to “normal”, but it could also bring about anxiety and questions.

This time of year can often put a strain our mental health. Less sunshine, colder weather and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can make things more difficult at the best of times, but throw in the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders and things get even harder.

Self-compassion is about extending the compassion that we feel for others and applying it to ourselves. It’s about allowing the love, kindness and grace that we show to others during times of failure or suffering to apply to our own.