Prepared and Positive: A Mental Health Forum for Parents

Posted by Rotary Club of West Ottawa

En anglais seulement

The Rotary Club of West Ottawa along with its partners Rideauwood, Youth Services Bureau, Parents Lifeline of Eastern Ontario and the United Way Eastern Ontario have organized a half day forum on mental health to take place at Saint Paul University on April 27, 2024, from 8:30 am - 1 pm. The theme for the morning is Prepared & Positive.

The focus of the forum is on helping parents to identify behavioural changes in their children which may be indicators of mental health issues developing in their child and what tools and resources parents have available to them to help them address these issues. I have attached a Registration poster just FYI. Registration can be accessed directly at Prepared & Positive - How do I Recognize Mental Health Issues in MY Child? | Rotary Club of West Ottawa (rcwo.org)

The program for the morning will consist of two 75-minute sessions. Parents will have the choice to attend 1 option in each session. Session One will have speakers on bullying (Angela Lorusso), addictions (Rideauwood), and body image (Youth Services Bureau). Session Two will feature Dr. Ian Manion, Dr. Laura Armstrong - both Clinical Psychologists - and a presentation by Parents Lifeline of Eastern Ontario. Parents can attend one of these sessions. Between the two sessions will be an hour-long break where attendees can have coffee and a snack and visit numerous information tables set up by organizations that provide help to young people and their parents during mental health incidents.

The final session will feature Emily Balla of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board moderating a discussion with three young people who have successfully navigated the mental health system and achieved wellness.

Please share this information with parents of young children and youth in your various networks.