Family-centred mental health organization, Family Smart, is working to ensure that conversations about self-harm, or self-injury, among youth are happening by supporting parents and caregivers in cities across the province, including Prince George. According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, 15% of youth have experience with non-suicidal self-harm in Canada, though the topic is rarely discussed. Now online, monthly group discussions are aimed at providing support and strategies for parents and caregivers of youth who are self-harming in Prince George. 

Kathy Buhler, Parent-in-Residence . Photo courtesy of Kathy Buhler.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and professionals alike have expressed concerns over the impact on mental health of prolonged lockdowns, limited social interaction, and generalized stress on teenagers and school age children. In May 2020, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization states “the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health is already extremely concerning”. The WHO also points to children and adolescents as a group at particular risk. 

Access to mental health supports was a challenge for many prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and barriers have, by many measures, been exacerbated by the pandemic. Family Smart has moved their sessions online in an effort to continue to provide support for parents and caregivers. The next session for Prince George residents is scheduled for January 27, 2021 at 6pm and will be held online. Registration is required.

Parent-in-Resident, Kathy Buhler, talks about the In The Know event that happens monthly, titled "Self-Harm: There is always help, there is always hope" on CFUR-FM: