Indigenous families with children 3 to 12 years old who are experiencing big worries and fears (known as anxiety in Western views) will have access to free, culturally grounded wellness practices through a virtual parent and caregiver coaching program. The We Are Indigenous: Big Worries/Fears Parent/Caregiver Support Program was developed with the guidance of the Indigenous advisory group Caring in All Directions and Indigenous writers in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA BC).
The US Surgeon General recently issued an advisory on the youth mental health crisis, which was worsened by COVID-19, calling for swift, coordinated actions.[1] The situation in BC is similar. It is time for BC and Canada to create comprehensive strategies for child and youth mental health and substance use (CYMHSU), emphasizing prevention.
In April 2020, Health Canada launched Wellness Together Canada in response to a rise in mental health and substance use concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The free, online platform provides 24/7 access to mental health and substance use supports to all Canadians.
Prior to the pandemic, mental health conditions were the leading cause of disability in Canada, with one in two people affected by 40 years of age.[1] Now, COVID-19 has turned this crisis into a catastrophe, with half of all Canadians reporting worsening mental health,[2] and those experiencing the most societal inequities facing the greatest mental health decline during the pandemic.[3]
