Youth Mental Health & Wellness

REACH Mental Health

The Reach Support Program is a Ministry of Health funded program offered by BGC Kawarthas. Reach is designed to support children and youth develop coping skills and social-emotional learning. Reach also provides non-academic support to students who are on an alternative learning plan, serving a suspension, expulsion or needs help engaging with school.

For More Information Visit – REACH Mental Health Page

Flex Your Head

Flex Your Head is a universal mental health, education and awareness program created by BGC Canada. The purpose of the program is to help youth think about, talk about, and understand issues of mental health and wellness in a fun and engaging way. It is primarily an interactive, strength-based educational program that is not intended as therapy or counseling.

The goal is to strengthen a young person’s ability to cope with and recover from difficulty by: Creating awareness and enhancing understanding of mental health and mental illness. Helping youth develop strategies to cope with stress, promote healthy relationships and understand the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Topics include:

  • What is mental health and how do we talk and think about it?
  • Looking at where values come from.
  • Talking about emotions.(Importance of experiencing all emotions)
  • Introduction to mindfulness.
  • Looking at our brains and automatic thoughts. (relationship between thoughts and emotions)
  • Self-care and having compassion for ourselves.
  • Healthy relationships – Resolving conflict
  • Talking about stigma – what it is and the affect that it can have.

No upcoming sessions booked. Flex Your Head is also offered in the schools. Please connect with your School Mental Health Counselor to inquire about school programs.

Other Community Resources:

 
  • 24/7 phone and text support for children and youth up to 18. 

     
  • A national helpline providing 24/7 support for suicide prevention and emotional distress, including phone and text support. 

     
  • Offers support and resources for mental health promotion and recovery, with a local chapter in Kawartha Lakes at 705-328-2704 or 1-888-454-8875. 

     
  • Provides various mental health services in Lindsay, focusing on supporting children in need and their families. 

     
  • A children’s mental health centre offering free services to children and youth with mental health issues, as well as support to their families/caregivers. 

For further information or if you are looking for assistance in accessing mental health services for your child/youth; please contact : Interim Youth Services Coordinator, Melissa Carroll 705-324-4493 ext 231