May 6th-12th is Mental Health Week in Canada and this year’s theme is all about compassion for those who are suffering. The Mental Health Symposium in Parry Sound gathered educators, professionals, caregivers, and community members to share ideas about supporting youth mental health.
Event founders Colleen McLean, owner of Sound Youth Counselling, and Terry-Lynn Stevens, founder of The Doc Rob Fund, came together to coordinate the event, which attracted 125 participants.
“My ultimate goal for today is for people to leave with one new idea,” said Colleen. “That people leave with having heard a new perspective and that people leave feeling empowered and inspired to be a part of someone’s mental health support network and to be a part of systemic change.”
Terry-Lynn echoes the theme of this year’s Mental Health Week – A Call To Be Kind.
“Be kind. Everyone has a story,” Terry-Lynn said. “Encourage the conversation and let’s work together to be the beacon of mental health in the north.”
Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka attended the event and spoke about his own mental health challenges and the need for more services in the region.
“Small communities can get overlooked in the mental health conversation,” Graydon says. “There are mobile hubs, especially these youth mobile hubs that have started to be established in Ontario, supported by the government. There are a couple of great ideas for them throughout this riding so I’m very excited about that.”
Watch our in-depth video for more on this great event.
