Fast facts | The Canadian Mental Health Association breaks it down

Mental health and mental illness: what is the difference?

• Illness and health are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
• “Mental health” is a concept similar to “physical health”: it refers to a state of well-being. It includes our emotions, feelings of connection to others, our thoughts and feelings, and being able to manage life’s highs and lows.
• The presence or absence of a mental illness is not a predictor of being healthy mentally; someone without a mental illness could have poor mental health, just as a person with a mental illness could have excellent mental health.

Read more on the CMHA website!

What does this have to do with me?

It has really only been in my lifetime that we have started talking openly about this aspect of our wellbeing. If you are a little older, you may well remember a time when feelings simply were not discussed. Maintaining composure and bottling things up were signs of strength. We have moved beyond that, now. There is a growing permission to name what is true for all of us: we are resilient; we are vulnerable.

Our emotional and processing health needs the same attention we might give a tummy ache, a broken leg, or a migraine. Minding our emotions and overall wellbeing is as important as taking care of our cardiovascular system.

In wobbly times like these, turning attention inward is important. We are learning to take care of our self — maybe with some of the same compassion we are quick to offer each other!

How can I help my loved ones?

And that compassion that you so readily turn toward your friends and family is important. Do you need to tag in some extra support? Here are a few of the charities that we work alongside through vehicle donation:

Your local chapter of the CMHA

Breaking Free Foundation

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC

Horizons For Youth

Kids Help Phone

Mental Health Foundation

Sunshine Therapy Dogs

Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health

Westman Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention

Your local Distress Centre

How you can help your mental health charity today

Perhaps you would like to give the cause you love a little extra back up? The charities named above are just a few — your car, you choice! You can gift your vehicle to ANY Canadian charity. Aid the work of the cause you love by donating your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle. Re-sold or recycled, it will bring a valuable donation. The tow is always free. Moreover, you will receive a tax receipt from your charity, too!

Not quite ready to donate? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! There you will get an overall feel for how we care for each other and our charities. This is a caring community, here to serve you.

The post Mental Health in Canada appeared first on Donate A Car.

Help for kids in real time

One of the unique things about Kids Help Phone is that it’s not all about crisis. They can connect with a professional counsellor over homework trouble. Friendship conflict? They can call in. And, of course, those confidential concerns they may not feel comfortable discussing with their parents or teachers are welcome.

It’s not always easy for a child to tell a parent what’s going on inside. It doesn’t mean we are bad or negligent parents. Nor does it mean there are always deep dark secrets to be concerned about. Sometimes our kids just want to discuss their thoughts or feelings with someone else.

When they need an outside source to discuss something with, where do we send them? It can sometimes be disconcerting to think they don’t want to talk to us, but we all benefit from another person’s perspective at times. When ideas or solutions are offered that haven’t been considered yet, it’s pretty cool to have that ‘aha moment’.

As a single parent I am acutely aware that I cannot provide all of my childrens’ mental-emotional needs. I’m grateful for the amazing people in my life who help me! I have also showed them the Kids Help Phone website too,  so they know they are never alone, that there is somewhere they can take their ‘stuff’ if they don’t want to talk to anyone in our circle of support.

Sharing in the care

In a world that doesn’t always make sense but also one where the expectations of our children are so extremely high and demanding, it’s reassuring to know there are professionals like Kids Help Phone to help our children peel back the layers and listen to them. Truly listen. This story is a true reflection of the impact KHP has on not just kids, but their families as well.

It’s worth giving them an extra tool in their tool belt that may impact them! Maybe even in ways that we may never know about. Of all the things in the world that grab our attention, let’s give our kids opportunity to be their best selves. And if part of that includes showing them the simplicity of the KHP website, so be it.

Kids help is a click or call away

Your vehicle can be donated to any charity in Canada. There are so many children’s charities to choose from! Kids health, wellbeing, education, and success are being well-tended by hundreds of Canadian groups.

To make a contribution through the donation of your vehicle, please go to the ‘donate now’ button below. You’re underway! The form there will take just a few minutes to complete. It will help to have the VIN number of the vehicle ready before you begin.

If you prefer to call in to our help line, that’s easy, too! And you will get an answer live and in person! There are no robots here! Our line is 1-877-250-4904 — Monday through Friday during business hours!

You are also invited to contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program as well as see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities across the country!

The post Kids Help Phone – Because Kids Need to Talk Too! appeared first on Donate A Car.

Bell Let’s Talk | Changing how we talk about health

Let’s create meaningful change.

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights ways we can all create meaningful change and take action by doing one or more of the following:

• Choose a mental health organization to learn about or support
• Help a friend struggling with their mental health by learning how to support them
• Ask about how your school, workplace or community is creating change for mental health
• Nurture your own well-being by practicing and learning mental health strategies
• Get involved in a mental health initiative or organize an event to support mental health
• Engage in conversations about mental health to fight stigma

What does this have to do with me?

It has really only been in my lifetime that we have started talking openly about this aspect of our wellbeing. If you are a little older, you may well remember a time when feelings simply were not discussed. Maintaining composure and bottling things up were signs of strength. We have moved beyond that, now. There is a growing permission to name what is true for all of us: we are resilient; we are vulnerable.

Our emotional and processing health needs the same attention we might give a tummy ache, a broken leg, or a migraine. Minding our emotions and overall wellbeing is as important as taking care of our cardiovascular system.

In wobbly times like these, turning attention inward is important. We are learning to take care of our self — maybe with some of the same compassion we are quick to offer each other!

How can I help my loved ones?

And that compassion that you so readily turn toward your friends and family is important. Do you need to tag in some extra support? Here are a few of the charities that we work alongside through vehicle donation:

Your local chapter of the CMHA

Breaking Free Foundation

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC

Horizons For Youth

Kids Help Phone

Mental Health Foundation

Sunshine Therapy Dogs

Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health

Westman Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention

Your local Distress Centre

How you can help your mental health charity today

Perhaps you would like to give the cause you love a little extra back up? The charities named above are just a few — your car, you choice! You can gift your vehicle to ANY Canadian charity. Aid the work of the cause you love by donating your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle. Re-sold or recycled, it will bring a valuable donation. The tow is always free. Moreover, you will receive a tax receipt from your charity, too!

What does this have to do with me?

It has really only been in my lifetime that we have started talking openly about this aspect of our wellbeing. If you are a little older, you may well remember a time when feelings simply were not discussed. Maintaining composure and bottling things up were signs of strength. We have moved beyond that, now. There is a growing permission to name what is true for all of us: we are resilient; we are vulnerable.

Our emotional and processing health needs the same attention we might give a tummy ache, a broken leg, or a migraine. Minding our emotions and overall wellbeing is as important as taking care of our cardiovascular system.

In wobbly times like these, turning attention inward is important. We are learning to take care of our self — maybe with some of the same compassion we are quick to offer each other!

How can I help my loved ones?

And that compassion that you so readily turn toward your friends and family is important. Do you need to tag in some extra support? Here are a few of the charities that we work alongside through vehicle donation:

Your local chapter of the CMHA

Breaking Free Foundation

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC

Horizons For Youth

Kids Help Phone

Mental Health Foundation

Sunshine Therapy Dogs

Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health

Westman Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention

Your local Distress Centre

How you can help your mental health charity today

Perhaps you would like to give the cause you love a little extra back up? The charities named above are just a few — your car, you choice! You can gift your vehicle to ANY Canadian charity. Aid the work of the cause you love by donating your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle. Re-sold or recycled, it will bring a valuable donation. The tow is always free. Moreover, you will receive a tax receipt from your charity, too!

The post Bell Let’s Talk Day appeared first on Donate A Car.

Uvalde – Today’s reminder that we are all connected

Given the parameters of our work here at Donate a Car Canada, we have no wish to weigh in on the politics of anything. ‘Certainly not on the gut-wrenching Awful of the Uvalde school shooting. I saw a graph of what has been happening with school shootings in the the United States last night. It is confounding. Appalling. So many babies lost. So, I weep. And I get rage-y. But I also get curious about how to respond in ways that are just. Meaningful. Active. Right here in my own beautiful country.

In our little bubble of caring work here, we are so, so lucky! We see the scope of Good Work that Canadian charities lovingly engage in. We know that there are volunteers and paid workers toiling and serving and creating every day. They are applying themselves with so much heart to the very work that saves the lives of children. The people at the helm of our participating charities help make sense of the senseless.

The experience of suffering is something that connects us. Headline news (war, economic crisis, pandemic, and violent acts) is certainly a shared and collective trauma. And we each experience that suffering in our own ways.

One way to be with headlining tragedy

Do you ever feel a bit powerless in the face of heartbreaking news like that out of Uvalde? Or, do events like the Uvalde violence (or Buffalo’s just a hearbeat before that…not to mention the Ukraine), leave you with an angry energy that needs an outlet?

I understand those feelings, too. The rage and wish and empathy and indignation. Maybe you have robust ways of tending to those things in yourself? For myself, some rhythms of contemplation, mindfulness, and physical exercise help. Those practices can help with my own mental-emotional-spiritual health.

But sometimes we need to DO something. We need to help. Making some kind of contribution in a tangible way feels so important. Helping in practical ways seems to help our internal processing of impossibly big feelings about these kinds of circumstances.

I cannot help the grieving families in Uvalde. My reach for providing real assistance in the Ukraine is limited.

I can help here. At home. I can support teachers and care givers. My volunteerism and donating might aid distress lines or hand-up services for youth in crisis. By educating myself I can expand reach and understanding around issues of inclusion and equality. My practice of caring can chip away at barriers to mental health care and compassion for those who are chronically ill.

We can get involved

If you are doing your bit of good, and I am doing mine, will we build a healthier society? Overall? Or, at least, a gentler Canada? I’ll do my bit for empathy and dignifying inclusion. You do the same in the ways that feel alive and true for you. And soon, between you, me, and the people we love, might we find ourselves in a world where one child does not feel their only course of action is to take the lives of other little ones?

We are set up to partner with ANY Canadian charity. If you pop over to CanadaHelps and explore their charity list, you’ll find we can work on behalf of all of those charities, too!

Pick a cause. Perhaps, for today, it will be a cause that is shaping the lives of children and care givers and teens? Through music, sport, employment services, or distress care, we turn our attention to Canada’s unique needs and give there. In this way, might we bear witness to our connection to Uvalde?

We have so many children’s charities to choose from. If you would like to attend to your need to help by donating a car, here is a short list to get your creative giving juices flowing? Consider,

What happens when you donate a vehicle?

When you donate your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle, the net proceeds go to your cause. You fill out a 5 minute online form. We arrange your free tow. Your charity receives the funds, and you get a tax receipt.

We know this won’t right terrible wrongs like the parade of awful we see in the headlines these days. But your giving does seed Goodness. Caring. A commitment to acting on empathy. And that is a kind of justice all its own. The kind that invites another such action, and then another, and then one more. And that’s where we’re at with this today: I’ll do what I can. You do what you’ve got it in you to do. We’ll take care of each other. One loving act at a time.

The post Caring for Canada’s Kids | A response to Uvalde, Texas appeared first on Donate A Car.

There’s a buzz in the air! It’s Back to School Time!

I’m writing from a unique vantage point. My desk overlooks a busy small town street in Alberta, Canada. I’ve been watching the leaves turn and the skies dance as Autumn settles in. Early (It feels so early for Fall to be nipping at our heels!) The cool, smoke-free air is welcome and I’m getting that familiar squiggle in my tummy: it’s a new school year!

Today, the local elementary school is doing a staggered orientation. Girls and boys are scurrying down the hill, parents close at their heels, to meet their teachers. There are babes-in-arms, and moms juggling tiny hands clenching theirs. ‘So many dogs trundling along beside, oblivious to book learning, but so excited about their humans and the smells-along-the-way.

There is relief in the air (The kids are going back to school!). And there is uncertainty, too. We still don’t know what protocols really need to be in place to keep kids, teachers, and families healthy. We’re reaching for something, “normal.” Familiar. Safe. Uninhibited.

We’re finding our way together. ‘So many bumps along the way as we all learn how to hold differing views while continuing to be kind.

Our charities are adapting, leading, serving

Donate a Car Canada is honored to serve almost 1,000 Canadian charities. This is a diverse roster! Many of our receiving charities hold children and families as their top priority. Education. Services. Supports. Safety. Mental health resources.

If you are considering donating a car, truck, or van this autumn, take a look at some of the charities that would welcome your donation dollars:

Alma Children’s Education Foundation: play-based and project-based education programs utilizing local indigenous knowledge and language.

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids: make and deliver free healthy lunches for students who would otherwise go hungry.

Kids Help Phone: free, confidential and expert mental health support in English & French, 24/7/365.

Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba: programming, support and advocacy for individuals impacted by learning disabilities and ADHD.

The Canadian Safe School Network: reduce youth violence and make our schools and communities safer.

The Legacy Children’s Foundation: Legacy’s “Gift of Music” programs mirror programs are assisting youth to complete school and refrain from criminal behaviour.

Phoenix Education Foundation: provide unique learning opportunities for families so that each young person may develop into a life-long learner and an active, responsible global citizen.

Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC: steps in where health care ends, providing direct help to children with special needs in BC. For over 50 years they have ensured that children have the support to reach their potential and thrive.

How you can help during the Back to School months

The charities noted here are just a few of Donate a Car’s partners.

Choose the charity you love and visit their webpage. Check out their social media (Face Book, Instagram, Twitter). There are so many ways to give — even if you don’t have dollars to spare! Donate time, ideas, or resources.

If you have an unused or unwanted vehicle, we’re the team for you!

Our donation form takes 10 minutes to fill in.

The tow (or pick-up by hiker service) is free.

You’ll receive a tax receipt for the net proceeds from the re-sale or recycling of your car, truck, or van.

And your kids’ charity will receive your donation dollars!

Ready to make a difference this school year?

The post Back to School appeared first on Donate A Car.

Stretching, adapting…

Every household with minor children is adapting in big ways right now.

School is happening in the kitchen! How’s it going, Moms? ‘Feeling pretty good about grade 6 Math?

The kids are home. Like, they’re home all the time. Alllllll the time. No sports, no music lessons outside the home, selective playdates.

So much online everything. Maybe a little parental guilt about the amount of screen time that’s happening, too.

Teachers and doctors and coaches are stretched the limits of creative Zoom classroom-ing.

It’s a lot. The most resourceful and creative parents I know are feelin’ the pressure.

…and just managing

In the last few weeks I’ve heard the phrase, “We’re just managing.” A lot. There’s not much sparkle or curiosity. Folks are really tired of being flexible and rolling with it all. “I’m lucky because my kids get along well, but do we ever need to get away from each other!”

We’ve settled in for this long and wildly unpredictable ride. We’re doing all we can to maintain normalcy and learning and play. And some of our fellows are struggling under burdens that go beyond boredom and sibling squabbles.

Children’s charities are here to help

Are you a family (or loved-one to a family) that has children facing into unique disruptions during the pandemic? Mental and physical illness are exacting parental challenges at the most secure of times. If you, or your dear ones, are parenting children with complex needs, these are difficult times, indeed.

Our children’s charities list has been growing for years. My quick count shows that we have 174 actively receiving gifts through Donate a Car Canada right now!

Visit our charities page to discover a cause that resonates with you. You’ll find education-based works. There are so many organizations reaching toward sick kids. Focusing on food and housing insecurity, charities are meeting felt needs. There are even children’s charities dedicated to giving children access to sports.

When you donate a car

Choosing a kid’s charity as your vehicle donation recipient means cash in hand for that cause. We’ll do all of the work of pick-up and processing for your donated car, truck, van, motorcycle, etc. We’ll get paid for the vehicle, and then send the net proceeds on to your charity of choice. Tax time will be made a little gentler when you’re reminded of the gift you extended to kids in un-gentle times.

Help making a quick-pick

Kids Help Phone Children’s Treatment Network Because I am a Girl Bullying Canada Children’s Bridge Foundation

Your local foodbank/children’s hospital (see our charities page)

Find out more about how all of this works on our FAQ page. Or, give us a call at 1-877-250-4904!

You are also invited to contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program as well as see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities across the country!

The post Children’s Charities appeared first on Donate A Car.

Feeding the body

Canadian food banks are working hard in tough times. Keeping pantries and fridges stocked is key to helping families thrive. Explore our charities list for one that is serving in your area.

Charities like Carya reach toward the felt needs of young and old alike. Their vision? “Strong families and communities for generations.”

Their key objectives?

• Childhoods that prepare and propel youth towards future success
• Parents who are confident, enabled and supported
• Stress reduction and management
• Security of housing and food supply for the city’s vulnerable
• Early literacy and lifelong learning  across the age-span
• High school for vulnerable teens and tweens
• Socially connected and safe communities for all
• Long-term poverty reduction through education, resources and community
• Access to opportunity for every gender, race, creed, financial position, background and sexual orientation

Feeding the mind

As you’ve seen, Carya has a bit of this covered, too! Happily, they are not alone.

Strong Start is all about helping build a strong family through literacy. They recently reached out to us say, “…(we) applaud your work in our communities!” New to our program, they’ve received one donation so far. We’re excited about giving Canadian vehicle donors the option to choose this important work! Here’s more about how this charity helps:

Tending the heart

From kids’ camps to hospitals, Canada helps. Food banks and faith-based programs, and everything in between — we take care of each other. The crisis support of programs like Kids Help Phone is essential. Programs that offer joy and creative spark like our theatre programs are just as important! Your gift, whatever your passion, matters:

How you can help

Your strong family, your strong community are the heart of a healthy Canada.

Help our charities in their boots-on-the-ground work. You can do that by visiting their websites. Just click on their donation options link. You’ll find wish lists, action items, volunteer possibilities, and more.

Car donation is an effective help, too. Your vehicle donation becomes an extension of your own strong family legacy. Metal, wheels, and a half-full gas tank will translate into much-needed donation dollars for your charity of choice!

The post Strong Family, Strong Community appeared first on Donate A Car.

Your decision to donate your vehicle has come with thought and care. Choosing the charity that will receive the monies from that effort poses a unique challenge.

This is an easy decision for some: we give from the heart to the causes that make our hearts leap! Where the money goes is top-of-mind for others. Above all, give where there will be the best bang for our giving buck.

Maclean’s on who, what, why

Maclean’s ezine article, “Coronavirus: Where to donate and how to help Canada’s most vulnerable,” offers concise and valuable direction. If you’re looking to donate specifically to needs arising from the pandemic, this article will help!

Many of the charities noted in on their break-out lists are charities that we work to support daily. Note the Canadian Mental Health Association, The Salvation Army, and Food Banks Canada. These are on the short-list for monetary donation. Further, SOS Children’s Villages and Kids Help Phone are high on the list.

Concerned for the personal safety of women and children in violent domestic situations, consider donating. The Canadian Women’s Foundation, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, and your own local shelter need you.

Similarly, we have seen how aggressively COVID-19 has impacted our Canadian seniors. The Alzheimer Society in your province needs your giving dollars now.

Canadians are all affected

As you’ll see in the Maclean’s article, these quick acknowledgments skim the surface. We should state that impact has rippled to all sectors of our society. Consider gifting indigenous causes, or, turn your attention toward those with special needs. ‘Just plum tuckered out thinking about your fellow human? Why not consider a gift to any of our animal charities? It will be welcome!

The post Best Charities: Coronavirus appeared first on Donate A Car.

Kids Help Phone is impacting Canada’s children and teens in generous, patient, and present ways. Learn more about what they’re doing for our kids…

A visit to the Kids Help Phone website inspires hope. They have resources and supports, reflections and kudos. You may wish to read their 2016 impact report?

Here’s just a snippet of what we loved on their website:

Now more than ever, kids need Kids Help Phone.

Our professional counsellors are continually in touch with young people from across the country. This contact keeps us keenly aware of the emerging needs of young people and the year-over-year growth in demand for our services.

In fact, since 2010, telephone counselling has increased by 127%. This indicates that while Kids Help Phone now offers our trusted support online, many young people still want to hear a voice at the other end of the line. Our professional counsellors are there for that, ready to talk to kids, no matter how big or how small their problem may seem.

So just how important are our services? Consider that since 2013, there has been:

•  29% increase in counselling sessions from young people struggling with mental and emotional health concerns
•  22% increase in counselling sessions from young people experiencing suicidal thoughts
•  29% increase in demand for Live Chat counselling
•  16% increase in callers aged 17-20+ who, in general, deal with a far more complex range of issues

These are just a few of the indications that young people’s concerns are getting more complex. As a result of this, it can take us longer to respond to their needs. This means that, just as kids are struggling with their emotions and life challenges, we find ourselves struggling sometimes too – just to keep up with their demand for our service. That’s because more youth need us now than ever before.

Nonetheless, we are proud to report that when a child calls our counselling line, the average wait time in 2013 was only 26 seconds before one of our professional, caring counsellors answered their call.

But we’d like to do more. We’d like to expand our Live Chat service hours so even more kids can connect with us and get the support that they need. We want to provide more time for kids to chat with our counsellors, and less time waiting in queue.

We want to do this to help the young people who reach out to us in need. But we can’t without you. DONATE, and let’s accomplish this together.

You can help through the Donate a Car Canada program

Your donation-ready vehicle, whether re-sold or recycled, will help the kids you care about!

The post Kids Help Phone | No judgement, totally private, 24/7 appeared first on Donate A Car.