Myles Ahead Legacy Fund
Donation protected
My dear Myles Ahead community,
I know this is a difficult time. On the heels of the tragic losses suffered in Nova Scotia, and in the midst of so many other losses associated with this pandemic, we need to be there for each other now more than ever. Our hearts go out to all who are grieving, especially when communities cannot come together to support each other as we normally would.
We need each other. Our loved ones need us. Our kids need us. And we need to take care of ourselves in order to be there for others. Myles Ahead is here to help provide guidance to support you – and to support others – through this unusual chapter in our lives, and through those that follow.
We are all experiencing Covid-19 differently. Feeling complicated emotions is completely natural. And actively taking time to relieve the stress of the mind, body and soul will help.
Join us as we provide helpful information to support the Mind, Body & Soul through our social media channels. Tune in, like us, and feel your community #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead
Twitter: MylesAheadACYMH
Facebook: Myles Ahead Child
Instagram: MylesAheadChild
Pinterest: MylesAheadChild
In addition to social media, we will be sending out weekly emails containing useful resources to help support the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children and youth. You can share these emails and resources with those in your community however you like. You can subscribe at this LINK
As a special family-friendly activity to start us off, join us in an experiment:
i. Paint a heart on a rock of your choosing.
ii. Write #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead
iii. Place it in someone’s garden, or in a public space for others to see.
iv. Take a picture. Share it on social media with your location. Remember to tag us and use the hashtags #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead!
We will monitor the progress – let’s see how far we can #SpreadTheLove!
Sending love on behalf of the Myles Ahead team.
Be well, and stay safe!
Leslie Kulperger
Founder & Executive Director
Myles Ahead
--below is our original message written days after Myles' passing. --
My son heroically and courageously battled mental health issues for much of his childhood and in May 2018, tragically, he took his own life. The loss of Myles has been devastating and has spurned me to take action to improve the accessibility, affordability, and integration of publicly-funded child-friendly mental health services. I want to ensure that the courage and spirit of Myles in the face of enormous challenges lives on through the establishment of a charitable organisation dedicated to children's mental health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canada for all people aged 10-24. In Ontario, over 12,000 children and youth are waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment. This was my experience with Myles: long waiting lists, the cost of private care was exorbitant, and there were very little options beyond acute clinical settings. There is so much more we can do to prevent youth suicide, to better recognize and minimize the risks younger people with mental illness experience, and to provide alternatives for children, and their carers.
My experience of supporting my son navigate educational, medical and community services showed me that there are significant gaps in our understanding of youth mental health and across the systems that are needed to support children like my Myles.
My vision is form a non-for-profit corporation dedicated to plugging these gaps through raising awareness of childhood cognitive developmental and mental heath issues and treatment, and ultimately for an integrated retreat and hub for families with innovative therapies and offering respite, peer and carer support.
My lovely, funny and courageous son is gone and it is a loss that I will carry forever. Myles always wanted a better world and to help others. If our experience can help other families, that will be the legacy Myles would have wanted. I know Myles and myself would have been benefitted enormously from greater community support services and understanding. Your contribution will go towards this vision, advocacy efforts, and provide start-up funding for this.
I know this is a difficult time. On the heels of the tragic losses suffered in Nova Scotia, and in the midst of so many other losses associated with this pandemic, we need to be there for each other now more than ever. Our hearts go out to all who are grieving, especially when communities cannot come together to support each other as we normally would.
We need each other. Our loved ones need us. Our kids need us. And we need to take care of ourselves in order to be there for others. Myles Ahead is here to help provide guidance to support you – and to support others – through this unusual chapter in our lives, and through those that follow.
We are all experiencing Covid-19 differently. Feeling complicated emotions is completely natural. And actively taking time to relieve the stress of the mind, body and soul will help.
Join us as we provide helpful information to support the Mind, Body & Soul through our social media channels. Tune in, like us, and feel your community #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead
Twitter: MylesAheadACYMH
Facebook: Myles Ahead Child
Instagram: MylesAheadChild
Pinterest: MylesAheadChild
In addition to social media, we will be sending out weekly emails containing useful resources to help support the mental and emotional wellbeing of our children and youth. You can share these emails and resources with those in your community however you like. You can subscribe at this LINK
As a special family-friendly activity to start us off, join us in an experiment:
i. Paint a heart on a rock of your choosing.
ii. Write #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead
iii. Place it in someone’s garden, or in a public space for others to see.
iv. Take a picture. Share it on social media with your location. Remember to tag us and use the hashtags #SpreadTheLove #MylesAhead!
We will monitor the progress – let’s see how far we can #SpreadTheLove!
Sending love on behalf of the Myles Ahead team.
Be well, and stay safe!
Leslie Kulperger
Founder & Executive Director
Myles Ahead
--below is our original message written days after Myles' passing. --
My son heroically and courageously battled mental health issues for much of his childhood and in May 2018, tragically, he took his own life. The loss of Myles has been devastating and has spurned me to take action to improve the accessibility, affordability, and integration of publicly-funded child-friendly mental health services. I want to ensure that the courage and spirit of Myles in the face of enormous challenges lives on through the establishment of a charitable organisation dedicated to children's mental health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canada for all people aged 10-24. In Ontario, over 12,000 children and youth are waiting up to 18 months for mental health treatment. This was my experience with Myles: long waiting lists, the cost of private care was exorbitant, and there were very little options beyond acute clinical settings. There is so much more we can do to prevent youth suicide, to better recognize and minimize the risks younger people with mental illness experience, and to provide alternatives for children, and their carers.
My experience of supporting my son navigate educational, medical and community services showed me that there are significant gaps in our understanding of youth mental health and across the systems that are needed to support children like my Myles.
My vision is form a non-for-profit corporation dedicated to plugging these gaps through raising awareness of childhood cognitive developmental and mental heath issues and treatment, and ultimately for an integrated retreat and hub for families with innovative therapies and offering respite, peer and carer support.
My lovely, funny and courageous son is gone and it is a loss that I will carry forever. Myles always wanted a better world and to help others. If our experience can help other families, that will be the legacy Myles would have wanted. I know Myles and myself would have been benefitted enormously from greater community support services and understanding. Your contribution will go towards this vision, advocacy efforts, and provide start-up funding for this.
Organizer
Leslie Kulperger
Organizer
Toronto, ON