Dear parents,
Our
community is one of 180 communities across the province which has been selected
for the 2014 Ontario Child Health
Study. Participating in this study, if asked to do so, is an important
opportunity to help children and youth in Ontario.
The
2014 Ontario Child Health Study is the largest and most comprehensive study on
child and youth mental health that has ever been done in Ontario. The study is
being conducted by Statistics Canada, in partnership with McMaster University.
Statistics Canada has invited over 13,500 families across 180 communities,
including ours, with children and youth aged 4-17 years to participate in the
study. The information gathered from will provide a more complete overview of
our children and youth than ever before.
The
Ontario Child Health Study was originally conducted in 1983 and found that 1 in
5 children and youth in Ontario have a mental health issue. The findings from
that study contributed to over $1 billion in federal and provincial funding
towards child and youth mental health initiatives. A lot has changed since 1983
– you can help update these findings. Please do your part to represent our
community and say yes if invited by Statistics Canada to participate.