M.I.understanding

We’re helping families manage worries and big feelings.

When M.I.understanding started almost eight years ago in London, Ontario, they had one objective: create accessible resources to support families struggling with children’s mental health. These resources needed to increase awareness, understanding and the importance of early intervention, while giving families strategies and tools to work together.

With a background in television and some friends with `Muppet’ experience, director Paula Jesty set out to work with community partners to develop a series of videos and resources that could be used by parents at home, schools and community groups to start an important conversation. Working with experts at LHSC, Thames Valley District School Board, Vanier Children’s Services and The Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic, her team created a series of videos and resources that have now seen well over 500,000 views across Canada and the United States. 

With families, schools and medical partners on board, M.I.understanding needed a community partner. The Kids Mental Health Optimist Club of Canada was formed in London, a partnership that allows the resources to be available to families at no cost, while supporting Optimist Clubs internationally to bring out the best in kids. 

M.I. understanding’s latest program, `M.I.Friends’ was designed to help families at home develop strategies, start a conversation, and bridge the gap to care with tools to strengthen educational and medical support. This program provides children with a comfort toy (named Poppy), while connecting families to an online video/ activity program, giving parents strategies, tools, resources, and suggestions on how to support their child as they learn to self-regulate.

M.I.Friends also helps community organizations working with families to provide care in the moment to children on long wait lists, and families isolated by the pandemic.

Help this to be a program that is accessible to any family seeking assistance.

Please help us continue to create a community of support for families by sharing our program, or sponsoring a program for a family in need.

For more information, contact: Info@miunderstanding.ca