Free Online Video/phone Counselling Services Offered to Distressed Toronto Youth During the COVID 19 Social Distancing Efforts.

Toronto based, charity Youthlink is answering the call to action by launching a free and confidential online video counseling service for Toronto Youth to age 24 and their families, experiencing abuse, depression, and any other stress caused by the COVID 19 Crisis. The E-Counselling What’s Up? Walk-In service is conducted by certified clinical councilors and will be available Monday to Friday during the crisis by booking an appointment with the intake center at 416-967-1773 ext. 222

Youth at Risk –  Information for Youth

By Centre for Suicide Prevention
Download a Free Copy Youth at Risk – Youth Information

If you are feeling suicidal

If you are feeling suicidal, tell someone how you are feeling and ask for help. Call a crisis centre or talk to an adult, such as a parent, teacher or school counsellor.

Get help right away

If you are feeling suicidal, tell someone right away. Contact a crisis line or talk to an adult, such as a parent, teacher or school counsellor. It may not seem like it now, but things can and do change. Asking for help opens the door to change.

Stigma

For many young people the thought of being different from their friends or social group can be frightening. The importance of fitting in is one of the main reasons a person does not seek help for problems. This is particularly true for issues concerning mental and emotional health which can carry a burden of stigma and shame.

What is stigma?

Stigma is a negative stereotype you may hold about someone, something or even yourself. We discriminate against and label those we see as having characteristics that are undesirable. In doing this we establish a sense of separation between “us” and “them.” Ultimately stigma is about disrespect.

What effect does this have on the person(s) being stigmatized?

When we hold negative attitudes toward someone it frequently results in the person feeling dismissed, marginalized and less than human. Poor self esteem can follow, as well as a loss of hope and even thoughts of suicide. Because of stigma and a fear of being rejected the person may not actively seek help when they need it.

What can you do?

First examine your own attitude.

Ask yourself – Do I stereotype people who are different? Do I treat them with disrespect? We all have the capacity to discriminate against others. Even children as young as three can recognize when someone is different. By stigmatizing we can feel a sense of separation and relief that “I am normal’. The good news is this can change…

Where did my attitude come from?

Many of the images and views we hold about people who have mental illness or who may be suicidal have a long history. These beliefs are reinforced by the media who often portray people with mental illness as unpredictable and aggressive or dangerous and violent.

How can I change things?

Get informed! The best way to counteract the stigma of mental illness and suicidal behaviour is to get the facts. Mental illness can develop after a traumatic event or it may be linked to the genetic makeup of a person.

Be compassionate and understanding. When you encounter a friend, classmate, teammate or even a stranger who may have different ways of doing things or a different way of being, treat them how you would want to be treated. We all have times when we feel down, angry, overwhelmed, or unable to cope.

Continue Reading – Download Free: Youth at Risk – Youth Information
By Centre for Suicide Prevention

Additional Resources 

The Parent’s Guide to Teaching Your Teen Online Safety

Keeping your teen safe online is near the top of the worry list for parents today. Kids do everything online, from learning to socialising, gaming to shopping. For teens, learning how to recognise the risks and protect themselves is a life skill they’ll need for years to come.

Youth Mental Health Sites

The Honouring Life Network
Your source for Aboriginal youth suicide prevention resources. The Honouring Life Network is a project of the National Aboriginal Health Organization. The Web site offers culturally relevant information and resources on suicide prevention to help Aboriginal youth and youth workers dealing with a problem that has reached crisis proportions in some First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada.

Kelty Mental Health
The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre is a provincial resource centre that provides mental health and substance use information, resources, and peer support to children, youth and their families from across BC. We also provide peer support to people of all ages with eating disorders. All of our services are free of charge, and you can reach us over the phone, in person, or through email.

Foundry
Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in seven communities across BC.

Teen Mental Health
What are Mental Disorders? What is Brain Injury? What is Stigma? We need to know as much about our minds as we do our bodies. Have a look at the videos on our YouTube channel as well.

Open Mind
OpenMindBC.ca presents a valuable resource for physicians, parents, teachers, and youth to learn more about the support services that are available in British Columbia and across Canada.

Jack.org
The national network of young leaders transforming the way we think about mental health. With initiatives and programs designed with the input of young people at every step, we will end stigma in our generation.

Mind Check
This Mind Check website was created in order to assist young people to identify and understand mental distress they may be experiencing and to link them to sources of help that will enable them to learn skills and strategies to manage these problems.

YouthSpace
Youthspace.ca is made up of a community of volunteers who are here to support you – whatever you are going through.

Kootenay Family Place
You are not alone.  Whether you are dealing with mild anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use, or suicidal thoughts, we can help link you to the right services in your community.

Mind Your Mind
Mind Your Mind is an award winning site for youth by youth. This is a place where you can get info, resources and the tools to help you manage stress, crisis & mental health problems.

The Jack Project
The Jack Project provides much needed mental health information and support to young people s they move from late high school into college, university or independent living. We also equip interested adults – the parents, family members and educators – with the knowledge they need to support the mental health of the young people in their lives. Their vision is “No More Silence.”

Teen Suicide
Teen Suicide .us is presented for adults and teens. We offer articles, facts, and information on teenage suicide prevention, adolescent suicide statistics/rates, and related issues.

Reason to Live
The Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line is a toll-free, confidential 24-hour crisis line run by trained crisis counsellors from Klinic Community Health.

Teen Depression
Statistics, Prevention, Facts on Teenage Depression

The Balanced Mind
The Balanced Mind Foundation guides families raising children with mood disorders to the answers, support and stability they seek.

The Yellow Ribbon Campaign
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program® is dedicated to preventing suicide and attempts by making suicide prevention accessible to everyone and removing barriers to help.

Kids Health
KidsHealth is more than just the facts about health. As part of The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media, KidsHealth also provides families with perspective, advice, and comfort about a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues that affect children and teens.

Maine Teen Suicide Prevention
This website speaks directly to teens. It has information about suicide prevention and related topics, how to get help for yourself and others, stories by teens about their experiences, and a quiz on information about suicide.

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
This website has a teen section where you can find information to help yourself or a friend who may be having suicidal thoughts. You can also find information on how to cope if a friend dies by suicide.

Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth ages 13–24. Its website has information about the signs of suicide and a way to connect online with other LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Helpline is a 24-hour toll-free suicide hotline at 1-866-488-7386. TrevorChat is for online crisis chat 6 hours a day at www.thetrevorproject.org/chat. Trevor Text is for texting on Fridays late afternoon to early evening. Text “Trevor” to 202-304-1200.

Addiction

Signs of Addiction
Recognizing the signs of addiction is the first step to getting help for yourself or guiding someone you care about to rehab. For this reason, it is critical to have an understanding of the signs of addiction. There are behavioral, physical, and psychological signs of addiction.  Advanced Recovery Systems is an advanced approach to patient care.

Alcohol and Suicide
When things get tough, when it’s hard to cope, when feeling becomes too much – places where we all have been – the need to make it through becomes eminent. As this is something we all can relate to in one way or another, it should be easy to understand why you or someone you love has turned to alcohol to soothe or numb the pain. After all, it’s a quick and readily available solution, right? Well, quick and readily available – yes. A solution – no.

Rehab Center
Addiction can strike anyone, and when it does, you feel every part of your life is spinning out of control. Your friends won’t call you, your finances are a mess, and your job feels like a nightmare. When all that matters is your next high, you’ve stopped living. Where can you turn to for help? A drug or alcohol problem is not a death sentence—you can get your life back and be the person you were meant to be. The benefits of recovery include a renewed outlook, a wiser disposition, and a more energetic and ambitious you. You don’t have to fight addiction alone. RehabCenter.net is the Web’s most comprehensive guide to quality rehab centers and addiction treatment. We offer free and confidential information about the many effective and empowering rehab options available today.

DrugRehab.com
The web resource provides information and support to teens fighting addiction and substance abuse. Addiction isn’t a choice, and people suffering from it need help to recover. The disease is caused by a variety of factors and leads to long-term negative consequences that could be deadly. Effective treatment for drug addiction and behavioral addictions exists to help addicts recover. DrugRehab.com’s mission is to equip patients and families with the best information, resources and tools to overcome addiction and lead a lifelong recovery. Drugs and alcohol have a greater effect on teens than on adults. The signs of addiction can be difficult to understand, and many teens don’t realize the long-term damage drugs have on their bodies because the short-term side effects fade. Help is available for teens who have questions about drug abuse, treatment or think they are suffering from addiction.

Drug Rehab.com for Co-Occurring Disorders
The web resource provides information and support to teens fighting co-occurring disorders. People with co-occurring disorders have both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. It is also referred to as dual diagnosis. It is required to have an integrated treatment plan that targets both illnesses at once. Mental illness can be classified as anything from minor cases of depression to severe impairments such as schizophrenia and PTSD. Substance addiction and mental illness go hand in hand. Co-morbidity, the simultaneous occurrence of two disorders or illnesses in a person, is common among people with substance abuse problems and can affect the course and prognosis of the disorders.

Bullying and Cyber Bullying

Cyber Bullying: The Complete Guide
When the line between normal, even acceptable, playful teasing crosses into bullying, problems arise.

Kids HelpPhone
Bullying. Choose to make a difference. Stand up. Step in. Reach out. Tell someone, or tell Kids Help Phone.

The Impact! How to Make a Difference When You Witness Bullying Online program is designed to help students know how to intervene when witnessing cyber bullying so you can make a positive difference.

NeedHelpNow
If you (or a friend, peer or sibling) have been involved in a self/peer exploitation incident (otherwise known as “sexting”), we are here to help. This site provides you with guidance on steps you can take to get through this.

Deal
Operated by the Youth Engagement Section of the Royal Canadian  Mounted Police. Part of the National Youth Services branch of the RCMP´s Crime Prevention Services. Facts on what bullying is, why people bully and who they target and how parents can deal with their child, whether they are being bullied or are the ones doing the bullying.

Remember normal is a state that really doesn’t exist. We are all human – interesting, flawed, talented….. different. The thing to remember is when different means mentally unwell, help is available. Support from family, friends, teammates, school teachers and strangers is crucial.