TORONTO – To mark the start of Children’s Mental Health Week on May 3, OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas will endorse a move to make May 7 Child and Youth Mental Health Awareness Day.
His endorsement will come at a rally at Queen’s Park organized by Parents for Children’s Mental Health (PCMH), starting at 10 a.m. Later that day, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is scheduled to table a private Member’s bill calling on the government to designate May 7 for special recognition.
Besides Thomas and Horwath, others scheduled to speak at the rally include: Sarah Cannon, Executive Director of PCMH.
“I fully support the move to designate May 7 as a provincial day for children’s mental health,” said Thomas. “However, the McGunity government can’t speak out of both sides of its mouth. Either they put forward a plan to provide for long-term sustainable funding, or they just admit that children with mental health issues just aren’t a priority for them.”
A network of parent groups across the country is working to have the day recognized both provincially and nationally.
OPSEU members in child treatment will be attending the rally and will be hosting local events across the province to mark Children’s Mental Health Week.