How you can help Manitoba youth struggling with mental health

Stephen Sutherland with the Canadian Mental Health Association discusses the youth mental health crisis and how parents can help.

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day and this year’s event is focusing in on the youth mental health crisis in Canada.

In Manitoba, suicide is the leading cause of death for youth between 10 and 17 years old.

“We’re not surprised by the numbers. We see that every day,” said Stephen Sutherland with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

“We know that there is a mental health crisis amongst youth.”

Sutherland said though young people are open to talking about mental health, the self-stigma remains.

He said some signs that someone may be struggling include withdrawing from hobbies, worsening grades in school and disconnecting from friends.

“But also, a lot of young people have a façade and a mask,” he said.

“The best thing we can do as caregivers is ask ‘are you doing okay?’

Sutherland said that many young people face barriers when it comes to accessing mental health services.

He added that CMHA offers several programs that people may not know about, including Futures Forward, which helps those who are aging out of care.

Sutherland said CMHA’s approach uses a reimagined system that doesn’t require youth to have an appointment.

“There are some great programs out there for those that are unsheltered, those that are needing counselling,” he said.

“We take the stepped care approach of people come in. They share and if that was helpful, they come back.”

CMHA also offers online programs to help youth, including BounceBack.

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé