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8 uw 3 = Continued from page 3 hursday, September 15, 2022 | 2! 3 12-year-old Emmett Ouellette, F said her son just we same thing that numerous par- ents R ibe region have found — wait "T head ‘started to reach out for we're axed, We don' th have any more rail: And I'm watching my son slowly slip away, to a point that I came home Me an upsetting Anestage fan the ™ Goulds real poset a if I wasn't here," said Neal. That dark place led the family to the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK). With locations in Oak- ville and neighbouring commu- nities throughout the region, ROCK offers a wide range of men- tal health services for youth —in- cluding a crisis line. Described as a one-stop shop for youth mental health, fou is able to guide the sometimes panting oy ston of supports, whether that be by connecting them toa ier a clinician or a referral to Emmett said the organization was an important part of his path to feeling better and getting a fresh start. "I was able to talk to a thera- pist and get a bunch of things off my chest," he said. “I didn't over feel like they were judging m¢ annie I said. It just felt tke 1 ons anything I needed to Now receiving therapy ROCK, Emmett is doing a Tot bet. ter. He is going to a new school and feels that because of his ther- apist, he's now able to release his feelings in a more positive way. “If you don't, you're just going to have stuff inside for forever and you're never going to feel completely happy. You'll never learn from what went through and you'll just be ina vi- cycle forever," said Em- me ett, Unfortunately, Emmett's sto- GOT PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND? CONCRETE insidehalton.com RESOURCES ROCK - (Reach Out Centre For Kids) 24-hour Crisis Line 905-878-9785 www.rockonline.ca Distress Centre Halton Oakville: 905- nen Burlington: 905-681-148: Halton Hills/ Milton: 905- aT7: 1211 www.dehalton.ca Halton Children's Aid Society 1-866- on S47 www.haltoncas.ca Losblon/ay/0i/Trens Youth Line 1-800-268-9688 www.youthline.ca Mental alt Helpline - (ConnexOntai 1-866-531- 2600 www.connexontario.ca ry is not particularly unique. Many young people across the re- gion are facing the same chal- lenges, Canadian Mental Health Association data show: Stephanie Wilsack, operations and development manager for ROCK, said the services the orga- YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH OUR nization Erovidss are aimed at giving yc le the tools peopl y need ‘0: succeed "Mental health c: any- thing. It can be from aati with day-to-day crises to sige fo de- pression, anxiety, to to bullying, to your own dente said Wilsacl "Mental health is about your mind being the best it can be. Ev- erybody needs at + mental health, from zero (years) to the very end. We want to beable to help and ensure that everybody has has the proper coping mechanism: tools to be successful." Today, Emmett and his family are turning their ordeal into an opportunity to do something pos- itive for the community. On Sept. 16 and 17 at the Uptown Social House, they will be hosting a din- ner and live music fundraiser with all funds raised going to ‘OCK. Tickets cost $50 for dinner. Glenn Groves will be performing and there will be a50/50 draw and silent auction. speaking at the event along with local dignitaries. ROCK SUPPORT HUGELY BENEFICIAL: YOUTH Guests are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Burlington Food Bank. e family is no stranger charity events, having pared several over the years, and the early response to this one has www.burlingtondads.com. tt has advice for young people who may be facing a simi- le with peers in their life. "If it feels like you're trying s su- per hard to become fri you have to make yourself into a different person, then you don't want to be riends with those peo- ple,” said Emme nyone Intesested in learning more about the ROCK is encour- aged to visit their website at .rockonline.c: STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Amid the rise in mental health struggles among youth, we want- ed to share a Halton child's or- deal and what a local agency is doing to offer support. FIND MORE LOCAL EVENTS AT INSIDEHALTON.COM ON NOW AT THE BRICK! win DOWN nt PRICES! nO, SAVING Y U MORE For more details shop instore or online at thebrick.com