Dear Premier Ford,

I am writing to you today to bring attention to the importance of including mental health education in Ontario's current curriculum for children. Mental health is a pressing issue that affects millions of Canadians, and it is crucial to address it in our educational system. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year. The statistics are shocking, and we must take action to address the issue.

Ignoring mental health issues can have severe consequences. Suicide rates are on the rise, and mental health issues are often the root cause of many societal issues, including crime, domestic abuse, and bad relationships. In fact, research has shown that those who suffer from mental health problems are more likely to engage in criminal behavior. Moreover, mental health problems can lead to physical illness; the cost of untreated mental health problems to the Canadian economy is estimated to be at least $50 billion per year.

Investing in mental health education can help to prevent these negative consequences. By addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and bullying throughout childhood, we can help prevent suicide amongst children. It is essential to consider the consequences of ill mental health and the ignorance of such issues amongst both children suffering from conditions and those who are aggressors in schools.

Teaching mental health education will lead to further educational success amongst children who are suffering and whose mental health is a distraction to their learning. Poor mental health can lead children to feel low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and a disbelief that they are able to make achievements.

Moreover, drug use is often a form of self-medication. We need to talk about the dangers of self-medication through recreational drug use, even through the use of something as seemingly harmless as cannabis. Mental health and homelessness are also closely linked – alcohol and drug abuse, and a society plagued with poor mental health are factors contributing to job loss and homelessness.

It's crucial to provide education on mental health, including various mental health conditions, coping mechanisms that students can employ throughout life, the dangers of self-medication through recreational drugs, and the importance of seeking help. By providing such education, we can encourage understanding and sympathetic behaviors amongst others, promoting a society where people support one another. The curriculum should be developed through a collaboration of counselors, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and teachers/education professionals.

I urge you to take action and make mental health a part of the curriculum in schools. This way, we can help prevent future drug use issues, potentially halt crime and abuse, suicide, and more. We need all children and adults to learn to be more sympathetic about mental health issues; this will help build a more supportive society without stigma and reduce the heavy burden on our health care system.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.