Easing young minds

Agency dedicated to children’s mental health helps kids go to camp and participate in sports

Sophie feels isolated. Her world is very small.The young girl’s mother is losing her eyesight. Her mother can no longer drive. There are no other transportation options available to Sophie in her rural County home. When Sophie (not her real name) isn’t at school, she is at home. Helping her mom. She dreams of going to camp—of learning, playing and exploring with children her own age. Though she is still young, the stress of isolation is taking a toll.

Fortunately, there are folks in this community who can help. The Children’s Mental Health Services (CMHS) of Hastings and PrinceEdwardCounty is an agency that looks out for and helps vulnerable young people like Sophie.

The CMHS was were able to help Sophie go to camp—giving her a much needed break.

Sadly, there are many young folks like Sophie in our community—grappling with more stress than any child should ever have to bear.

In Prince Edward County, more than 175 families, like Sophie’s, are being served by the agency each year. Currently, the agency is assisting 60 families in this community.

The mental challenges and anguish that young people endure is not well known—nor is it, for obvious reasons, publicized. Yet the need for support offered by the CMHS is critical to dozens of County families. It is an important lifeline for the families coping with these challenges.

“Thank you CMHS,” wrote one relieved couple. “Your worker was a lifesaver by helping us send our girls to day camp for two weeks last summer. They had so much fun and still talk about it.”

Through the assistance of the CMHS one young family was able to let their children participate in a team sport for the first time.

“You gave us support and helped our family a great deal,” wrote the parent. “Then you gave our children a great opportunity by enrolling them into soccer.”

CMHS offers a range of counselling and therapeutic services, but for many children merely the opportunity to simply be a kid with others their age has helped a great many do just that.

You can help kids like Sophie.

On Thursday July 10, The Wellington Classic golf tournament will tee off at the Wellington on the LakeGolf Course with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Following nine holes of golf dinner will be served at the Wellington on the Lake Rec Centre. A bar and silent auction will round out the fundraising event.

Golf and dinner is $75. Dinner only $35.

All proceeds from the event will be used to help children go to summer camp or participate in sport or arts activities.

For more information contact Kate Brookfield at 613.399.9060.