Parenting Struggles, Hopes, and Triumphs

The Perlin Foundation in collaboration with the Community Education Service (through AHS’s Mental Health Collaborative) is pleased to support a virtual community mental health presentation, Navigating mental illness in children and its impact on parenting: Struggles, Hopes & Triumphs, led by the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education on Tuesday, 21 November at 7:00 PM.

Did you know?

The Mathison Centre was established in 2012 at the University of Calgary to fill the gap in research on the mental health of children and youth. The Centre recently celebrated a decade of research and impact with remarkable milestones and achievements detailed here.

The Perlin Foundation first connected with the Mathison Centre in Spring 2019, to collaborate in sharing and exchanging knowledge with faculty members leading federally-funded research around cannabis and discover what data was being used to create the programs and systems that support its use in Canada. This aligns with The Mathison Centre’s goal to “foster research and innovation to advance the mental health across the lifespan with particular focus on children, youth and emerging adults”.

Children and families impacted by mental illness

In line with one of its mandates for knowledge engagement with the community, the centre is hosting a national-bestselling author for a community talk to share the lived experience and research insights on families of children with mental health challenges. During this poignant talk, Dr. Paul Arnold, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and director of the Mathison Centre will highlight the centre's research and how it interfaces with the mental health experiences of everyday families filtered through the family story of Jan Stewart.

“Jan Stewart is a highly regarded mental health governance expert and advocate. Her memoir Hold on Tight: A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness tells the raw and emotional story of her two children and imparts invaluable insights and advice from her lived experiences.”

It is the intent of the Centre, and of the AHS’ Mental Health Collaborative, to present relevant information about mental health through stories and experiences that we can relate to. Through this conversation, you’ll find moments of heartbreak and hope as they explore the impact of severe mental illness and neurodivergence within a typical family. This event is open to anyone interested in learning and sharing about the mental health of children and the impact on families. The event will offer an engaging atmosphere to share and ask questions. Register