The Ottawa Child and Youth Initiative works together to foster the healthy development of all children and youth through research, advocacy, and program development. Our vision is for children and youth in Ottawa to have the opportunity to reach their full potential and grow up great!
With a long-term objective of ensuring that organizations are able to respond to the evolving mental health and well-being needs of Ottawa’s children and youth, OCYI looks for opportunities to share mental health resources with our partners and the community.
For the past few years, OCYI’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Task Group has been able to reach a wider audience through Bell Let’s Talk Day. Sharing local resources, tips, and compassionate messages, the IECMH Task Group aims to use their collective expertise to support families and care providers by directing them to quality content and helpful information.
Knowing that children quickly grow into youth, the group created additional posts this year that are in alignment with Bell Let’s Talk Day’s 2025 focus on youth mental health.
OCYI will be sharing this list of local mental health resources, for children, youth, and their families, throughout the day on January 22nd and looks forward to engagement with our partners. We welcome you to follow along, share, or post these messages through your own networks.
On #BellLetsTalk Day 2025, OCYI is taking action to make real change by sharing local mental health resources available to children and youth! Visit iecmh.ca and follow along here.
- 1Call1Click.ca helps children and youth to connect with the right mental health, addictions, substance use health and neurodevelopmental health services and care when they need it. Reach out today. #BellLetsTalk
- OCYI’s IECMH Task Group is making real change by helping families to find reliable information and resources to support the mental health of babies and children. iecmh.ca #BellLetsTalk
- Youth Services Bureau is there for youth with a 24/7 crisis line and range of welcoming, non-judgemental, mental health services provided by a team of experts. https://www.ysb.ca/services/ysb-mental-health/ #BellLetsTalk
- Britannia Woods Community House delivers mental health and advocacy programs to Black and Racialized children, youth, and families! Learn more: https://www.britanniawoods.com/programs-services/mental-health-and-wellbeing/ #BellLetsTalk
- Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services partners with youth offering tailored programs focused on substance use, behavioural addictions, and mental health issues. https://www.rideauwood.org/programs/youth-and-young-adults/ #BellLetsTalk
- Little ones can struggle with their mental health too! If sensory issues and delayed skills development are causing concern, OCYI’s IECMH Task Group can help. Please visit iecmh.ca #BellLetsTalk
- Ottawa’s Parent Resource Centre is making real change in mental health by supporting the families of youth through the Family Resilience Program and Parent Support Line. https://www.parentresource.ca/frp #BellLetsTalk
- Parents and caregivers need support too! Pleo is here to help families of children and youth facing mental health challenges, to find their way forward. https://pleo.on.ca #BellLetsTalk
- Let’s make real change in 2025 by being real! Taking care of babies and small children can be exhausting! Your mental health is key to being able to care for others. Resources at iecmh.ca #BellLetsTalk
- LeCAP supports Francophone children and youth struggling with their mental health, addictions, and concurrent disorders. Services include listening, guidance, and confidential chats! https://centrelecap.ca/en/lecap-home/ #BellLetsTalk
- By youth for youth! YouthNet/RéseauAdo (YNRA) is a bilingual mental health promotion and intervention organization bringing strategies, support, and activities. https://ynra.ca #BellLetsTalk
- Many factors contribute to a family’s mental health and well-being. By making connections to community resources, meals, services and more, CNEO can help to navigate many of life’s challenges. https://cneo-nceo.ca #BellLetsTalk
- Did you know that Crossroads is Ottawa’s leader in infant and early mental health delivering free mental health services solely for children under the age of 12? https://crossroadschildren.ca #BellLetsTalk