A Message from the CEO

Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Week in Canada when communities, schools and workplaces rally together to celebrate, protect and promote mental health. This year’s theme is empathy. It recognizes that empathy needs to be at the core of everything we do to protect and promote mental health. This requires us to listen before we react, seek to understand, not judge and #GetReal about how we can help.

I want to reacknowledge that the past two years have been the most challenging years many of us have ever faced. Youth, in particular, have been among the most vulnerable and the most impacted. As an organization reaching over 350,000 youth every year through STEM learning experiences, Actua has witnessed a rise in mental health-related issues among the youth we serve. Many parents – myself included – and educators have expressed concern over lost confidence levels among youth and a general decrease in their motivation and love of learning due to mental health-related issues.

Stay tuned for an announcement later this week for more on Actua’s plans to further support mental wellness among youth by building back their confidence. In the meantime, I ask that you join Actua and the many individuals and organizations across Canada in recognizing #MentalHealthWeek on social media using the hashtags #MentalHealthWeek and #GetReal. Together let’s rebuild lost confidence and reignite hope for the future.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the Wellness Together Canada portal provides 24-hour, free, and confidential mental health and substance use tools and resources. You can also contact Kids Help Phone by calling 1-800-668-6868, text CONNECT to 686868, or access their e-mental health services available 24/7 across Canada at kidshelpphone.ca.