VICTORIA - It's a surprising statistic for many British Columbians: one in seven children and youth in B.C. struggles with a mental health challenge that interferes with their daily lives and their relationships with friends and relatives.

Today has been declared Child and Youth Mental Health Day in B.C. in order to raise the importance of mental health in healthy child development and the need to provide accessible and effective support and care for those children and youth experiencing mental health challenges and their families.

Government is working with community partners to improve supports for children and youth and their families as part of the implementation of Healthy Minds, Healthy People - A 10-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in B.C.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development are co-chairing a task force with The F.O.R.C.E. - Families Organized for Recognition and Care Equality - Society for Kids' Mental Health, which is leading development on a family mental health framework.

Government has provided funding for development of the framework, which identifies the mental health promotion needs of families affected by mental health challenges, and outlines potential strategies to address those needs and improve the mental health and wellbeing of all family members.

The framework will be officially unveiled by The F.O.R.C.E. at an international mental health conference tonight in Vancouver.

A variety of national and international clinicians, physicians, researchers, policy makers and front-line workers are attending the conference (May 6-8) to help gain a better understanding of the mental health needs of young people and their families when a family member is experiencing mental health challenges, and how to better support them.

Quotes:

Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development -

"Collaboration among a wide range of partners, representing all sectors of society, is a key part in our efforts to improve outcomes for children, youth and families experiencing mental health challenges. Through our work with The F.O.R.C.E., we're looking at what is best for families as a whole, as well as supporting individual family members struggling with a mental disorder."

Keli Anderson, executive director, The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health -

"The F.O.R.C.E. has led Child and Youth Mental Health Day since 2007 when it was first launched in B.C. The Ministry of Children and Family Development has supported the day each year and this year we've appreciated their participation in the creation of a family mental health framework being unveiled at the Child and Youth Mental Health Matters Conference on May 7."

Quick Facts:

• Current estimates suggest approximately 130,000 children and youth in B.C. experience mental disorders serious enough to negatively impact their daily functioning.
• Three of the most common disorders among children and youth are anxiety, attention-deficit disorder and depression.
• Mental health problems frequently begin early in a person's life, with approximately half starting by age 15 and three-quarters by age 24.
• Healthy Minds, Healthy People -a 10-year plan to address mental health and substance use across the lifespan - places a strong emphasis on identifying challenges early and intervening appropriately to support healthy development and set the stage for a fulfilling and productive life.
• With approximately $94 million invested annually, the Ministry of Children and Family Development offers a range of programs to prevent and address mental health challenges in children, including:
• Community-based services.
• School-based services such as the FRIENDS For Life anxiety prevention program.
• Specialized services for those youth involved in the justice system.
• Residential, non-residential and outreach services for youth who have significant psychiatric and behavioural difficulties.

Learn More:

For more detailed information on Child and Youth Mental Health programs and services in the province, go to: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/

Read Healthy Minds, Healthy People, B.C.'s mental health plan released in fall 2010: www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2010/healthy_minds_healthy_people.pdf

Learn more about the Child and Youth Mental Health Matters Conference: http://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/CYMHM/

The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health: http://www.forcesociety.com/

Contact:

Shae Greenfield
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639