Great job by Michael McBean on youth mental health article | Letters to the Editor

Raissa Amany, who was quoted in a recent story about youth mental health, serves on Kids Help Phone’s national youth council. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia

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Great job by Michael McBean on youth mental health article

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The hard numbers and description of the current reality of youth mental health could not have been better described. I commend writer Michael McBean for getting input from professors and research chairs in youth mental health and violence prevention, and for bringing attention to this alarming situation that requires immediate action.

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I am concerned for the 1,034 children under six who received help in 2025 through 1Call-1Click, versus 502 in 2024. In the same breath, I am encouraged that “young people are more comfortable seeking mental health than previous generations,” as stated “in part because decades of work to reduce stigma have made reaching out more acceptable.”

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One point particularly resonated with me: how youth communicate. As the article notes, young people may finally have privacy after everyone else in the house has gone to bed. Texting also gives them time to put difficult feelings into words without having to say them aloud.

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We need to recognize that youth do not all communicate the same way. Some are comfortable speaking; others communicate more effectively by text, and perhaps most importantly, on their time, when they are ready and in the mode that works best for them. If we want them to reach out, we need to meet them where they are.

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We need to move from our current intervention model to a prevention model.

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It will take a community, more “budget lines” and leadership to stop this runaway train. Youth mental health is not something hospitals and government can solve alone.

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Steve Georgopoulos, Orléans

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It would be right call to make Jeff Hunt the Redblacks’ team president

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I agree 100 per cent with Ottawa Citizen sports writer Don Brennan in regards to Jeff Hunt returning to the Redblacks as team president.

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Everything that Hunt touches turns to gold. He is a sports guy, loves the city and always thinks progressively on how to market and make sporting events “fan friendly.” He knows how to put “bums in the seats.”

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Jeff remarked that he’d do the job for free, in return receiving a $1-million bonus if the Redblacks win the Grey Cup in three years.

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Never count this guy out!

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Doug Miller, Manotick

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It was all fun and (Highland) Games in Almonte

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A group of us went to Almonte on Saturday, Aug. 22, to attend the North Lanark Highland Games. We had friends who would be piping, and had never attended before. We had an amazing day, really enjoying the massed pipes and drums.

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What particularly impressed me were the men competing in the heavyweight athletics competition. Not only did we see extremely strong men (in kilts!) compete in amazing feats of strength, we also saw those same men and the judge be incredibly positive and supportive of each other, even hugging it out when eliminated from a trial. They also “competed” against the children in a tug of war, trying so hard but still losing to the children. Adorable!