Published On: October 1, 2026
More than 50 leaders and frontline professionals from healthcare, education, child welfare, community services, policing, and partner organizations gathered in St. Thomas on September 28 for a community-wide planning day focused on improving mental health and addictions supports for infants, children, youth, and families. The complexity and severity of infant, child, and youth mental health needs have accelerated at a pace our systems are struggling to manage. The volume of young people needing help has skyrocketed, the intensity of their needs has deepened, and the workforce and services designed to support them are stretched.
The event, themed “Disconnect to Reconnect,” is part of an ongoing collaboration that began following two Community Days of Action in 2025. This reflects the growing concerns about the impact of social media and cell phone use on children’s and youths’ mental health, including increased anxiety, depression, dysregulation, and disconnection from real world supports. Since then, organizations across Elgin County have been working together to strengthen connections between services, reduce barriers to care, and create more coordinated pathways to support.
“This work demonstrates what is possible when organizations move beyond individual mandates and work together as one system,” said Monica Olanski, Vice President, Patient Services & Chief Information Officer at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. “By building stronger partnerships and improving coordination, we’re creating a more responsive and connected network of care for local families.”
The session provided an opportunity for partners to understand the impacts of technology and social media, share concerns, and explore emerging issues affecting young people, specifically looking at the impacts on mental health and well-being.
The collaboration brings together professionals from multiple sectors who recognize that complex challenges require collective solutions. Organizers say the progress made over the past year highlights the power of partnership and a shared commitment to supporting the health and well-being of children, youth, and families across Elgin County.
