That's a big question. That's a question that has been floating around for a long time.
I also have to say that October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and that's the day when Amanda took her life, not realizing it was World Mental Health Day, so awareness is really important.
The strategies and tips.... In my opinion, it's all about prevention, because when you talk about online harm and online abuses, those are triggers that lead to mental health distress. Some of the mental health distress, of course, can be organic within a person, or it can be developed with ongoing trauma, with post-traumatic stress, with ongoing victimization. Without the supports needed, it doesn't go away. It just grows and grows until it bursts, unfortunately. We don't want things to burst.
Preventative measures, education resources, funding for adequate health care.... We talk about psychiatrists. We talk about psychologists. We talk about counsellors. No child, no person should have to.... If they are going to a provincially funded health care provider—for example, in B.C. we have children's mental health teams working with youth up to the age of 24—no one should have to wait on a six-month waiting list. If there is a six-month to one-year waiting list, then the next step is private.
My problem with psychiatrists is that they want to give medication, and medication is not always needed. There are other ways to provide supported care—spiritual care, physical care—to a young person. Then you go with the counsellor or the psychologist route, which of course needs money. Even if the parents have the best benefits in the world, they don't provide for ongoing care, and I've heard that from many parents who have contacted me. Something I am dedicated to is supporting that with Amanda's Legacy. Then you see the improvement.
Funding is really important. Provinces need to add psychotherapy, psychologists and counselling to their medical plans so that this is accessible.