Learn More About Child and Youth Mental Health

Growing Up Resilient: Ways to build resilience in children and youth

Bouncing back from today’s stresses is one of the best life skills children and youth can develop. Growing Up Resilient is a must-read for adults (including parents, teachers and front-line workers) who want to increase resilience in the children and youth in their lives. This resource has been awarded Curriculum Services Canada's Seal of Quality, recommending it as a reference for educators and others who work or volunteer in schools.

Barankin, T. & Khanlou, N. Toronto, ON, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(2007)

Being Prepared: Knowing when to seek help for your child

Washington, DC, United States: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry(July, 2004)

Kids and Mental Illness: What Every Parent Should Know

British Columbia, Canada: Produced by the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Washington, DC, United States: Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center(1997)

Catch a Falling Star

Gayle Grass (illustrations by Coral Nault) Smith falls, Ontario, Canada: Iris the Dragon Inc.(2001)

When Something's Wrong: Ideas for Families (Quand ça ne va pas: Aide aux familles)

When Something’s Wrong: Ideas for Families was designed to give parents, caregivers or other family members useful strategies to cope with and assist children and youth with mood, behaviour, or thinking difficulties (e.g., social withdrawal, disorganized thinking, hostility, aggression, agitation). This handbook is useful on three levels: 1. It can help reassure you that your child’s behaviour is normal for his/her age and stage of development; 2. It can assist you in knowing when to seek help or extra support; and 3. If your child has already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, it can suggest many practical and useful coping strategies and direct you to resources and supports in your community.

Toronto/ON, Canada: Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation(2004)

A-Z Disorder Guide

New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Children, Youth and Mental Disorders

British Columbia, Canada: BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information(2006)

Youth and Mental Illness

Davidson, S. & Manion, I. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Booklists

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Family Resource Centre, McMaster Children's Hospital.

Anxious Annie

Anxious Annie, the world’s greatest thinker, has anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (also called OCD for short). Annie explains how her thoughts make her do certain things over and over and over again - like count all things red, such as red shoes, red cars, and red houses. In addition to OCD, Annie is affected by anxiety. She worries much too much about things other kids her age don't even think about. Come discover Annie’s world and see why she still thinks she's awesome!

Written by: Bobula, J. & Bobula, K.; Illustrated by: Hall, R. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Wildberry Productions(2009)

About Anxiety Disorders

Goodman, R. & Gurian, A. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Children's Mental Health Facts: Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders

Washington, DC, Canada: Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center(1997)

Anxiety Problems in Children and Adolescents

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Centre of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development, Offord Centre for Child Studies(2007)

Anxiety Booklist

List of popular books and web resources related to anxiety problems in children and youth. The selection is based on parent and child feedback, and from on-going reviews at the Family Resource Centre.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster Children's Hospital(2004)

Hole in One

Hole in One: A Tale from the Iris the Dragon Series, is the third book in the Iris the Dragon series. The book addresses the topic of anxiety disorder in children, specifically anxiety about going to school and performance. This book provides children with anxiety an opportunity to identify with their thoughts, feelings and actions through the young character in the book. The book also helps normalize what a child with anxiety might be going through to let them know there is hope and that getting the help they need is important.

Gayle Grass, illustrated by Graham Ross Perth, Ontario, Canada: Iris the Dragon Inc.

Taking Care: Child and youth mental health

• Beyond the Blues: Child and Youth Depression (2004)
• Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety (2004)
• Map of Mind Fields: Managing Adolescent Psychosis (2004)
• Struggle for Control: Child and Youth Behaviour Disorders (2005)

Bartlett, S., Kuzmickas, N., LeRose M., & Wood, M. British Columbia, Canada: Knowledge Network(2004 - 2005)

About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Verduin, T. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Attention Deficit Disorders

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Mental Health Association.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

National Institute of Mental Health. Bethesda, Maryland, United States: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services(2006)

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Kids

British Columbia, Canada: BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information

Attention Problems in Children and Adolescents

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Centre of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development, Offord Centre for Child Studies(2007)

Attention Problems Booklist

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster Children's Hospital(2004)

Eager Eddy

Eager Eddy is the story of a young boy who is blessed with enormous amounts of energy. This book describes what Eddy's life is like and how he, his friends and family have grown to live and enjoy his seemingly boundless source of energy. Eager Eddy has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Eddy takes you along and explains what his life is like at home and at school. A very exciting journey.

Written by: Bobula, J. & Bobula, K.; Illustrated by: Hall, R. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Wildberry Productions(2007)

Lucky Horseshoes

This illustrated children's book addresses the topic of ADHD, and is part of the Iris the Dragon book series. "The book illustrates through its images and words the feelings and thoughts of an ADHD child. Using the delicate approach of the fairy tale genre, this book provides children with ADHD an opportunity to identify with their thoughts, feelings and actions through the young character in the book. For caregivers, "Lucky Horseshoes" has an informative epilogue about ADHD from Dr. Catharine Robertson, Staff Psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Chair of the ADHD Network of Eastern Ontario. In addition, the book illustrates the role of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in helping a child achieve their potential, which is helpful for any child who is concerned about having one."

Gayle Grass (illustrations by Linda Crockett) Perth, Ontario, Canada: Iris the Dragon Inc.(2006)

Dinosaur Diego - The World's Smartest Dude

Dinosaur Diego is a story about an amazing boy who knows endless tidbits about dinosaurs. In fact, he is something of a child expert on dinosaurs. Diego has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. Join Dinosaur Diego as he demystifies Asperger's syndrome for us and shares his passion for dinosaurs.

Written by: Bobula, J. & Bobula, K.; Illustrated by: Hall, R Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Wildberry Productions(2008)

I Can Fix It!

I Can Fix It, the fourth book in the Iris the Dragon series, focuses on educating audiences about Asperger's Syndrome, one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the importance of a caring community surrounding children with developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges. Once again, Iris helps the central character in the book understand herself but decides to also tackle the challenge of getting the whole community to support and understand what children with various mental health conditions are confronted with in life.

Gayle Grass, illustrated by Graham Ross Perth, Ontario, Canada: Iris the Dragon Inc.

About Conduct Disorder

Goodman, R. & Gurian, A. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Children's Mental Health Facts: Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder

Washington, DC, United States: Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center(1997)

Conduct Disorder

Washington, DC, United States: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry(July, 2004)

Behaviour Problems in Children and Adolescents

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Centre of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development, Offord Centre for Child Studies(2007)

Behaviour Problems Booklist

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster Children's Hospital(2004)

Taking Care: Child and youth mental health

• Beyond the Blues: Child and Youth Depression (2004)
• Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety (2004)
• Map of Mind Fields: Managing Adolescent Psychosis (2004)
• Struggle for Control: Child and Youth Behaviour Disorders (2005)

Bartlett, S., Kuzmickas, N., LeRose M., & Wood, M. British Columbia, Canada: Knowledge Network(2004 - 2005)

About Eating Disorders

Goodman, R. & Gurian, A. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

About Depressive Disorders

Gurian, A. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Major Depression in Children and Adolescents

Washington, DC, United States: Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center(1997)

Mood Problems in Children and Adolescents

A plain-language summary of current and relevant research from around the world as it relates to mood problems in children and youth. Specifically designed for parents.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: Centre of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development, Offord Centre for Child Studies(2007)

Mood Problems and Depression Booklist

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: McMaster Children's Hospital(2004)

About Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

United States : The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation.

About Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressive Illness)

Goodman, R. & Gurian, A. New York, NY, United States: New York University Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine.

Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness) in Teens

Washington, DC, United States: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry(July, 2004)

Taking Care: Child and youth mental health

• Beyond the Blues: Child and Youth Depression (2004)
• Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety (2004)
• Map of Mind Fields: Managing Adolescent Psychosis (2004)
• Struggle for Control: Child and Youth Behaviour Disorders (2005)

Bartlett, S., Kuzmickas, N., LeRose M., & Wood, M. British Columbia, Canada: Knowledge Network(2004 - 2005)

Schizophrenia In Children

Washington, DC, Canada: The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry(Nov, 2004)

Youth and Psychosis: What parents should know...

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Youth and Mental Illness: Early Intervention Project, Canadian Mental Health Association(March, 2007)

Taking Care: Child and youth mental health

• Beyond the Blues: Child and Youth Depression (2004)
• Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety (2004)
• Map of Mind Fields: Managing Adolescent Psychosis (2004)
• Struggle for Control: Child and Youth Behaviour Disorders (2005)

Bartlett, S., Kuzmickas, N., LeRose M., & Wood, M. British Columbia, Canada: Knowledge Network(2004 - 2005)

Ticcing Thomas - The world's Fastest Arm Flapper

Ticcing Thomas is the story of a boy who is the world’s fastest arm flapper. Thomas also has Tourette Syndrome. In this story, Thomas explains what it’s like to have Tourette Syndrome and to live with different tics. He also explains that Tourette Syndrome isn’t just about having a tic. He describes the challenges he faces every day and how he’s learned to cope. Ticcing Thomas is a heart-warming and educational story for all!!

Written by: Bobula, J. & Bobula, K.; Illustrated by: Hall, R. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Wildberry Productions(2009)

Dual Diagnosis: A Guide for Families of a Child with an Intellectual /Developmental Disability and a Mental Disorder

Provides information from both a youth and parent's point of view. Offers useful insights.

West Vancouver, BC, Canada: The FORCE Society Kids' for Mental Health, Family Support Institute

CYMHIN Information Flyers: Family Friendly Information about Child and Youth Mental Health

These downloadable handouts provide practical, evidence-informed information about child and youth mental health. They are specifically written for families; but health (and school) professionals will find them helpful as well.

Canada : Child and Youth Mental Health Information Network (CYMHIN)(May, 2009)

Challenges & Choices: Finding Mental Health Services in Ontario

Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(2003)