Children's Mental Health Week: May 4-10, 2026
Help us raise awareness for child and youth mental health during Children’s Mental Health Week (CMHW), May 4–10, 2026.
Each year, Mental Health Week is acknowledged during the first week of May with an emphasis on children’s mental health and National Child and Youth Mental Health Day on May 7.
This year, Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) is aligning with the theme for Mental Health Week, “Come Together,” which invites all of us to strengthen our connection to ourselves, to one another, and to our communities. At its core, this theme recognizes that connection is foundational to mental health and well-being.
CMHW 2026 is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of connection, highlight the critical role of community-based mental health services, and call for action to build a more connected and responsive system of care for Ontario’s infants, children, youth, and families.
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children's Services (NEOFACS), in collaboration with our community partners from the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee, has put together resources and planned activities for our communities.
We invite you to join us in recognizing CMHW 2026 by participating in and promoting the activities and events listed below. Your involvement helps spread awareness and strengthens our collective commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of children and youth!
Celebrate CMHW 2026 and encourage your friends, and family to take part!
Here’s what’s happening!
5 Ways to Well-Being & Giveaways!
NEOFACS and the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee are committed to promoting Five Ways to Well-Being which supports people to live a happy and fulfilling life and feel engaged in their community.
Five Ways to Well-Being is a set of five simple, evidence-based actions, which can improve well-being in everyday life:
- Connect: Talk and listen. Be there. Feel Connected.
- Take Notice: Appreciate the simple things that give you joy.
- Be Active: Move your mood. Do what you can. Enjoy what you do.
- Keep Learning: Embrace new experiences. See opportunities. Surprise yourself.
- Give: Your time. Your words. Your presence.
Join us in celebrating mental health and well-being by incorporating these actions into your life!
A printable colouring page is available to display support for mental health awareness.
Throughout the month of May, we challenge children, youth and families to take part in activities that promote the Five Ways to Well-Being for a chance to win a Prize Pack!
There are two draws with separate online registration forms:
Deadline to enter: May 31, 2026
Winners will be contacted shortly after in June 2026 (Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries received.)
The giveaways are open to all children, youth, and families in our communities!
If you have any questions or photos of your participation that you would like featured on our social media channels, please email them to event@neofacs.org.
These giveaways are made possible with support from the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation, thanks to generous donations from community sponsors.
Please Note: Immediate family members of NEOFACS employees will be entered in a separate draw from the public contest.
Community Events
NEOFACS, along with the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee and other community organizations, have planned free community events.
Free public swims will be offered throughout the region.
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Cochrane: May 6, 6:30 to 8 pm
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Hearst: May 8, 6 pm to 7 pm
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Iroquois Falls: May 7, 6:30 pm to 8 pm
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Kapuskasing: May 9, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
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Kirkland Lake: May 8, 5 pm to 6:30 pm
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New Liskeard: May 9, 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm
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Timmins: May 6, from 6:45 pm to 8 pm
If you have any questions about the events or to confirm the schedule, please contact the pool facilities directly.
Join us during the month of May for local Flora's Walk for Perinatal Mental Health fundraisers hosted by our Brighter Futures program!
We are hosting community walks to raise mental health awareness, share valuable resources, and provide fun activities for kids!
- May 7 - Englehart
- May 8 - Kirkland Lake
- May 9 - Timmins
- May 11 - Kapuskasing
- May 11 - Cochrane
- May 11 - Smooth Rock Falls
- May 12 - Matheson
- May 13 - Iroquois Falls
- May 13 - North Cobalt
Together, we can make a difference in our region!
- Date & Time: Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 5 pm
- Location: Englehart Arena (Upstairs) - 90 7th Ave, Englehart
- Open to youth 13 to 25
Youth will help set-up for the “drive-in” movie event and meet The New Mentality Kirkland Lake group.
Since there is no free public swim event in Englehart, join us on May 7 for a fun movie night to celebrate Children's Mental Health Week 2026!
- Date & Time: Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 6 pm
- Location: Englehart Arena (Upstairs) - 90 7th Ave, Englehart
- Entry is Free!
- Open to all ages! This is a family-friendly event. All are welcome.
- Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Mystery bag draw for children/youth who bring their own decorated cardboard “car” using whatever they have at home!
In celebration of Children's Mental Health Week 2026, the New Mentality group is hosting a Family Movie Day in New Liskeard on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 am.
- Date & Time: Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 am
- Location: Empire Cinema Twins, 35 Armstrong Street North, New Liskeard
- Entry is free.
- First come, first serve basis. (150-person capacity)
- Open to all ages! This is a family-friendly event. All are welcome.
- Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Free popcorn and beverage for the first 30 people!
Date & Time: Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 10 am- Location: Espace Hearst Community Pavilion (909 Edward St.)
Virtual Events
Presented by the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee, we are proud to announce two sessions with Dr. Adele Lafrance.Dr. Adele Lafrance is a clinical psychologist, research scientist, author, and co-developer of emotion-focused treatment modalities, including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy.
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Session #1: Look Before you Leap: Tuning in to What's Below the Surface to Support Families
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 12 pm to 1 pm
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Session #2: From Roots to Reach: Building Your Village to Support Family Mental Health
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
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Presented by the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee, we are proud to announce two sessions in french with Catherine Raymond.
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Séance #1: Le stress des enfants et des adolescents : Le reconnaître pour mieux le gérer
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Le jeudi 7 mai 2026, de midi à 13 h (+15 min de questions)
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Séance #2: Le stress des enfants et des adolescents : Accompagner les enfants et les adolescents dans la maîtrise du stress et des émotions
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Le jeudi 7 mai 2026, de 18h30 à 19h30 (+15 min de questions)
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Do you or someone you know need mental health support?
Everyone may experience brief problems with some issues, but when those problems start to interfere with everyday living, it may be time to reach out for help.
Community members in need of help are encouraged to reach out to the services available in their community, including NEOFACS, or if they know a young person or family in need of support.
You are not alone! We are here to help.
We offer a number of programs and services for children, youth and families experiencing mental health needs, crisis situations or family breakdown.
Don't wait to access services or get help:
- You can reach NEOFACS 24/7 by phone at 705-360-7100 or Toll-Free at 1-866-229-5437(KIDS) (Ages 0-17).
- One Stop Talk offers children, youth and their families in Ontario immediate access to free mental health support by providing single session counselling and direct referrals to other services when needed. To connect with a clinician, visit OneStopTalk.ca or call 1-855-416-8255.
- You can also access support by contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868).
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline – Thinking of suicide? Help is available 24/7. Call or text 9-8-8.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline provides support to Indigenous people. Call 1-855-242-3310.
- If you are at immediate risk, you may also call 911 or visit your local Emergency Department.
Thank You Community Sponsors!
We are very grateful to our community sponsors for their amazing support! Donations to the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation help support the Children’s Mental Health Week Bursary and mental health awareness activities with North Eastern Ontario Family and Children's Services (NEOFACS).
A huge thank you to the following community sponsors for their generous gifts that made Children's Mental Health Week 2026 possible!
We would also like to acknowledge the following community partners who sponsored the free public swims throughout the region!