May is my favourite month of the year.  It is the month in which my father was born.  It is the first month of summer long-weekends (YEAH!!!).  It is a month when the sun shines at breakfast (potentially even if you work night shift), birds sing (which also makes it a favourite month of my cats), gardens bloom, and neighbours stop to visit in the streets.  It is a time when a little toddler who lives on our street stops to climb up and down our front steps when she is out for a walk with her father.  There is something about our front step that just offers this little girl endless possibilities for practicing her stair climbing.  That is the thing about May…it is the month of re-awakening and endless possibilities.  Therefore, it is fitting that May is kicked off by Children’s Mental Health Week.

Children’s Mental Health is about possibility.  This idea is reflected in the vision of the Mental Health Commission of Canada that

“All people in Canada have the opportunity to achieve the best possible mental health and well-being.”

Research and evaluation can help us to realize this potential.  As we move to evidence-informed practice, we are only beginning to see the possibilities: What is useful for children and families?  What is not? How can we continue to improve?

Stay tuned, there is a new evaluation project we will be reporting on in a few weeks.  Until then, enjoy this beautiful month of May and take time to see the possibilities.