Celebrating our Clients and our Staff for Children’s Mental Health Week & Child & Youth Care Appreciation Week 2025

Today marks the start of the first full week of May and that means it’s Children’s Mental Health Week and Child and Youth Care Appreciation Week. May 7 is also National Child and Youth Mental Health Day.

This year, Children’s Mental Health Ontario has chosen the theme: “Voices Unheard, Stories Told: Centering the Diversity of Ontario’s Infants, Children & Youth.”

This theme recognizes that many children, youth, and families—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, Francophone, Northern, and low-income—continue to face disproportionate barriers when accessing mental health care. Their stories often go unheard, even as they navigate long wait times, service gaps, and systems not designed with their identities and experiences in mind.

Over the course of the coming week, EveryMind will be taking the opportunity to amplify those stories, highlight the urgent need for culturally safe and community-based mental health services, and call for action that addresses systemic inequities. We will also take the time to celebrate our clients and our staff, who live our mission, vision and values.

What can you expect to see during CMHW 2025?

 In keeping with their theme, CMHO has introduced Voices Unheard – Stories Told | Exhibit — a virtual gallery featuring stories, artwork, and expressions from children, youth, and families across Ontario.
 Canadian Mental Health Association is focusing on #UnmaskingMentalHealth to facilitate open and honest conversations around mental health.
 If you are an active social media user, using #CMHW2025 and #MentalHealthWeek, you can also share your story on your personal accounts. Please tag @EveryMind_ca so we can reshare to amplify your voice.
 We will also be spreading the word about our services at school wellness fairs and other community events this week and throughout the month.

For CYC Week 2025, this year’s theme is “Where are they?” – A look behind the scenes of the multitude of CYCs that support this agency and our client families. Via multiple staff events, our staff will be taking the time this week to pause, reflect and celebrate how Team EveryMind positively impacts the lives of children, youth and families in Peel. In our 40th year of service to this community, what we do together as an organization matters more than ever, and we will be using it as an opportunity to join together with our mental health community to emphasize the “why” of child and youth mental health treatments.