BY GLORIA J. KATCH Special to the VOICE
Modern-day stressers, including social media, peer pressure, a lack of self-esteem, as well as other psychological and dysfunctional disorders in society, all contribute to children and teens struggling with mental health.
February has been designated Mental Health Month, and Pathstone Mental Health Foundation in St. Catharines has launched its first “Fill The Pig – Feel Better Campaign,” said Kim Rossi, Director of Philanthropy. The pig is a pink piggy bank, which can be picked up at any of the 17 Meridian Credit Union locations across Niagara. Fill it with donations and return it by the end of the month, and the proceeds will go to Pathstone.
Rossi said the fundraiser doesn’t really have an end number in mind.
“We are more focussed on getting 1500 pigs adopted.”
If Pathstone raises about $20,000, she said they will deem the campaign, which is already been approved through the school boards, a success. While Pathstone’s fundraising target group is youth, anyone including adults can adopt a pig. For those who aren’t in the canvassing spirit during February’s frosty chill, Pathstone’s website has a donation link: www.pathstonementalhealth/foundation/donate
One in five children in Canada is diagnosed with a mental illness. While mental illness has no socioeconomic boundaries and affects all types of families, Rossi said research with youth indicates those in the age group between Grade 7 and 12, who spend more than two hours a day on social media, exhibit more signs of stress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, she said, many teens “validate themselves and their worth by Facebook and how many likes they get. They take selfie pictures. To kids it’s everything,” said Rossi.
Pathstone’s staff believe that if they address debilitating problems and stress early on, it will avoid further complications in mental health and severe problems later in life. “Awareness, prevention and treatment,” is their focus. “If a parent thinks their child is struggling they need to come to us,” said Rossi.
The money fundraised helps run Pathstone’s programming, which includes a walk-in clinic that is run on Tuesday through Thursday in St. Catharines from 9 AM to 4 PM. Pathstone also offers group therapy and counselling on a wide variety of issues.
Pathstone receives many queries from concerned parents, but more importantly, it accepts youth and teenagers to drop into the clinic, where there are no fees, appointments or referrals required. This is important to teenagers who may not want to discuss sensitive issues with their parents for fear they may not understand, and feel ashamed, embarrassed, or fear some form of disciplinary action.
Once a person speaks to a specialist and is registered, they will be referred to therapist, who can assess and help them with their problem. There is a crisis hotline that anyone can access at 1-800-263-4944, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As an incentive to everyone to get involved in this project, anyone returning his or her piggy bank by February 28 and opening their first Wealth, RESP or High Interest Savings Account with a minimum deposit of $1,000, will automatically receive $100 for their participation.
Brian Berton, Manager of the Meridian Credit Union in Fonthill, said all credit unions throughout the Region have adopted this partnership and extended this offer. While the Meridian Credit Union supports many charities and gets many requests, helping kids in crisis is “a great cause,” he said.
The money also helps support educational workshops designed to help families maintain sound mental health and happiness, noted Rossi.
