Bill 223 2007

An Act to proclaim Children's Mental Health Week

Preamble

Thousands of children and youth in Ontario suffer needlessly every day. One in five persons under the age of 19 suffers from a mental health condition. Left undiagnosed, these conditions can cause pain and stress to children and youth and to their families, schools, peers and communities.

These problems are painful and very real, but too often are undiagnosed. It is imperative that we, as a society, reach out to these children and youth.

It is appropriate that each and every year we recognize and raise awareness of these issues in order to reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions and to give encouragement to children and youth who live with mental health conditions.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Children's Mental Health Week

   1.  (1)  The first full week in May in each year is proclaimed as Children's Mental Health Week.

Same

   (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the first full week in May in a year starts on the first Monday in May that year and ends on the following Sunday.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Children's Mental Health Week Act, 2007.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill proclaims the first week in May in each year as Children's Mental Health Week.