Children's Mental Health Week - May 5-11, 2025
Annually, Mental Health Week is acknowledged during the first week of May with an emphasis on children’s mental health. Recognizing Children's Mental Health Week (CMHW) is more important than ever!
This year, Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) is centering the theme: “Voices Unheard, Stories Told: Centering the Diversity of Ontario’s Infants, Children & Youth.”
This theme recognizes that many children, youth, and families—particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomer, Francophone, Northern, and low-income—continue to face disproportionate barriers when accessing mental health care. Their stories often go unheard, even as they navigate long wait times, service gaps, and systems not designed with their identities and experiences in mind.
CMHW 2025 is an opportunity to amplify those stories, highlight the urgent need for culturally safe and community-based mental health services, and call for action that addresses systemic inequities.
Together, we can raise awareness and push for a mental health system that reflects the voices and realities of all children, youth, and families in Ontario.
Join us for CMHW 2025 and help raise awareness for child and youth mental health and well-being!
Here’s what’s happening!
Five Ways to Well-Being Activities
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (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. Each weekday of Mental Health Week, we will promote one of the five actions:
- 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!
Printable activity booklets are available.
There is a version for children and youth.
- Download Activity Booklet – Child Version (English - PDF)
- Download Activity Booklet – Youth Version (English - PDF)
Booklet Printing Instructions
Here are the steps you can follow to print the PDF document in a booklet format on letter-size paper, double-sided:
- Download and open the PDF document and select “Print”.
- Under “Page Sizing & Handling”, select the option called “Booklet”. This will automatically format the document into booklet format.
- Ensure “Both Sides” or “Duplex Printing” is selected for printing.
- Click on “Print” to start printing your document in booklet format.
- Once the document is printed, take the stack of printed pages and fold them in half down the middle, so that the front cover is on one side and the back cover is on the other. Option to insert a staple along the spine to keep the pages together.
Alternatively, you can print the pages without using the booklet format. Note that if you choose to print the document normally, without the booklet format, the resulting pages will be separate sheets rather than a folded booklet.
A printable colouring page is available to display support for mental health awareness.
Let’s raise awareness for child and youth mental health and well-being throughout the month of May 2025!
We challenge you to take part in activities that promote the Five Ways to Well-Being!
Ways to Participate Include:
- Writing or drawing positive messages as an act of kindness using sidewalk chalk or window paint.
- Filling out the 5 Ways to Well-Being Colouring Page.*
- Completing the 5 Ways to Well-Being Activity Booklet.*
- Attending a community event that supports one of the 5 Ways: Connect, Take Notice, Be Active, Keep Learning, or Give.
(*Download the resources online or collect a printed copy from a NEOFACS office.)
Share your creations on social media using hashtags #5WaysChallenge and #CMHW2025 or #MHW2025.
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.
Enter for a chance to win a $75 gift card!
Complete the challenge for a chance to win one (1) of twelve (12) prizes of a $75 gift card from a local business of your choice to support your mental health and well-being.
To enter the contest, complete the online entry form by May 30, 2025, at noon.
Eligibility:
The contest is open to all children and youth in the Districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming in Ontario. Winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries received. In order to be eligible, participants must complete the online entry form by May 30, 2025, at noon.
Multiple entries per household are permitted, but there is a limit of one (1) prize per household. If multiple entries from the same household are selected as winners, only one prize will be awarded to that household.
Please Note: Immediate family members of NEOFACS employees will be entered in a separate draw from the public contest.
This contest is made possible with support from the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation, thanks to a generous donation from J&B Cycle & Marine.
Community Events
NEOFACS, along with the Northeastern Ontario Mental Health Week Committee and other community organizations, have planned several activities for our communities.
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!
Together, we can make a difference in our region!
See full event details at https://www.neofacs.org/floras-walk-2025
Free public swims will be offered throughout the region.
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Cochrane: Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 to 8 pm
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Hearst: Saturday, May 10, 2 pm to 4 pm
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Iroquois Falls: Friday, May 9, 6 pm to 7 pm
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Kapuskasing: Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
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Kirkland Lake: Friday, May 9, from 6 to 7:15 pm
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New Liskeard: Tuesday, May 6, from 6 pm to 7 pm
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Timmins: Wednesday, May 7 from 6:45 to 8 pm
If you have any questions about the events or to confirm the schedule, please contact the pool facilities directly.
Since there is no free public swim event in Englehart, join us on May 8 for a fun game night to celebrate Children's Mental Health Week 2025!Connect and play fun games! Bring your favourite games with you!
Open to all ages! This is a family-friendly event. All are welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Children and youth participants will be eligible to enter the 5 Ways to Well-Being Challenge for a chance to win a $75 gift card!
- Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
- Time: 5:30 pm to 7 pm
- Location: NEOFACS office, 40 Third Street, Englehart
- Drop in! No registration required.
In celebration of Children's Mental Health Week 2025, the New Mentality group in Timmins is hosting a button-making activity on Thursday, May 8, 2025: “Button Up for a Good Time”.
Join us in creating buttons that you can either bring home or donate to our agency. Earn volunteer hours while having fun!
Open to all ages - Drop in! Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 6 pm to 8 pm
- Location: NEOFACS Ross Office in Timmins (707 Ross Ave. E)
Event Highlights:
- Button Making
- Volunteer Hours
- Snacks
For more information, please email jessica.cloutier@neofacs.org or tammy.dinesen@neofacs.org.
Virtual Events
Campaign Fundraiser: Order Specialty Apparel
Specialty campaign apparel and accessories promoting mental health awareness are for sale, for a limited time. Proceeds from the sales will go to the North Eastern Ontario Children's Foundation to support mental health awareness activities and the Children’s Mental Health Week Bursary.
Save on shipping fees by choosing to pick-up your order at a NEOFACS office location!
The deadline to place an order for pick-up via our online shop is Friday, May 30, 2025.
Please see further details below. If you have any questions, please email event@neofacs.org.
How to Place an Order:
- Order & Payment Process:
- Visit our online shop at neofacs.deco-apparel.com
to view pricing, available colours, and size details. - Orders and payments can be conveniently made directly through the online shop.
- Visit our online shop at neofacs.deco-apparel.com
- Pick-Up Locations:
- When placing an order, save on shipping fees by selecting a NEOFACS office location for pick-up. Details will be communicated via the provided contact information when orders are ready after May 30, 2025.
About the Design and Products:
- The design features the message of "I ❤️ Mental Health Awareness". It was passionately created by our engaged youth with The New Mentality group.
- The design is available in English and French on a variety of products, with a range of colour options and sizing for youth and adults.
- You also have the option to add the NEOFACS logo to the sleeve of apparel for a small added fee.
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 sponsors for their generous gifts that made Children's Mental Health Week 2025 possible!
We would also like to acknowledge the following community partners who sponsored the free public swims throughout the region:
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Cochrane-Timiskaming
- Town of Kapuskasing
- City of Timmins
- Town of Iroquois Falls
- Town of Hearst
- Town of Kirkland Lake
- City of Temiskaming Shores Healthy Kids Program