Suicide is the second leading cause of death for those aged 10-19 in Canada.
According the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), suicide accounts for 11 per cent of deaths among 10-14 year olds, and 23 per cent of deaths among those aged 15-19.
The government of Alberta is looking at those and other mental health statistics, and on Oct. 8, announced that it partnered financially with Bell Canada’s ‘Let’s Talk’ in order to create a single online website portal specifically created for youth in order to provide them with mental health care, resources and information.
This $2 million website portal project will be an interactive gateway to provide mental health resources for Alberta youth, their families, mental health care and medical professionals.
According to the province, this website will enhance mental health services for children and youth, especially those living in rural and remote communities in Alberta.
Bell Canada’s ‘Let’s Talk’ donated $500,000, which was matched by the province’s Human Services and Alberta Health departments for a total financial commitment of $1 million.
The website will provide information on a broad range of mental health resources for children, youth and their families, links to around-the-clock online and phone counselling, and a referral service connected to trained mental health service providers.
It will also provide a connection to a full continuum of community based treatment and support services and support professionals skilled at working with youth, including enhanced web-based professional information, best practice tools and training.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, more than 1 million Canadian children and adolescents between nine and 19 years old were living with a mental illness in 2011.
Rocky View Schools Ward 5 trustee Colleen Munroe said one in five youth under the age of 19 experience some sort of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder that is severe enough to affect their daily functioning.
“We believe that the Alberta government should place greater emphasis on, and increase funding for mental health services in schools,” said Munroe. “Learning works best when children are healthy and not only includes their physical health, but their mental health as well.”
According to CAMH, while mental illnesses constitute more than 15 per cent of the weight of disease in Canada, these illnesses receive less than six per cent of health-care dollars.
The CAMH website states that almost a third of Canadians who seek mental health care report that their needs are unmet or partially met.
The rate is even higher for children and youth.
Munroe said part of Rocky View Schools’ board of trustees’ role is to expand mental health services for children and youth, and therefore she feels that this provincial initiative lines up perfectly (with her school board’s goals).
“Our children need services, and this is one more way to reach youth that may need help,” said Munroe. “Sometimes rural teens do not have (the same level of) access and this website may allow rural kids to feel that they are more connected.”
“Anything that the government does that helps with looking after the whole child we would whole-heartrendingly endorse.”
Alberta Minister of Human Services Heather Klimchuk said mental health is a critical issue for the province.
“I have always believed that mental health is the core of many social issues,” said Klimchuk. “I am very honoured to help keep the topic of mental health front and centre on everyone’s mind and we want the people of Alberta to know that help is available.”
Alberta will be the first province in Canada to establish this type of website portal, according to Klimchuk, who added that the province needs to provide this one-stop portal to ensure youth have the support they need.
“This online gateway provides a non-threatening way for children and youth to explore mental health and addiction issues whenever and however they choose,” said Klimchuk. “The government of Alberta is delighted that Bell Canada has chosen Alberta as the first provincial jurisdiction to work with to improve access to mental health supports.”
Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Canada’s ‘Let’s Talk’, said the website would provide a way for today’s youth to connect and learn and would help ensure that more young people will get access to resources and supports when and where they need it close to home.
“When youth have concerns, where do they turn? They go online for information and answers to their questions,” said Deacon.
“This website is also a great way for youth to get information in the privacy of their own homes,” Deacon said. “We live in a county with such vast geography and the population is so dispersed that it is more difficult to get access to supports and services, especially in a rural areas.”
“We wanted to do something in Alberta that would have impact all over the province, so we gave this gift of $1 million to develop this website.”
Alberta’s chief mental health officer, Dr. Michael Trew, said the province realized it needed a better way to connect with youth and their families.
“This website will be specifically designed for youth and will be a user-friendly portal for youth and their families,” said Trew. “The website will also give direction to youth and their families on how to navigate the health-care system.”
Carmela Hutchison, president of Alberta Network for Mental Health, an organization based in Irricana, said it is very important that the website be accessible to everyone, including youth with disabilities, such as the visually impaired and blind youth, those with developmental disabilities and youth in foster care who are transitioning into adulthood.
The website is expected to be completed and online in about 18 months.
To learn more visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
