Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre
1064 Colborne street N6A 4B3 London, ON, Canada

From all of us at Merrymount, happy holidays. No matter what holiday you celebrate, we hope you have a restful and safe holiday season. Please note, Merrymount’s offices will be closed from December 24-January 3. For crisis situations, please call: 519 434 6848

You provided the best people and services everI recommend. Any single mother should go to Merrymount if needed. You helped me a lot. had no one in London but you guys. Thank you. Merrymount provides the support to parents and children, who may not get it anywhere else. Merrymount is an invisible safety net in our community.

Save the Date! Merrymount’s newest FUN-raiserto be held virtually on February 11, 2021! Expect all the joy of Bourbon Street from the comfort of your home. Offering spectacular food, cocktails and entertainment, you won’t want to miss out! Purchase tickets on our website or join the Facebook events page to learn more!... Ps. Wondering how you can get fabulous food & drink... virtually? Well, you’ll pick up a box including all the ingredients you’ll need to create a fantastic meal & cocktail. Don’t worrythe box will contain instructions!

Our annual mitten tree went up this week, and as always, we are so thankful for the generous donation from Keeping Kids Warm. Each winter, Keeping Kids Warm hand knits hats and mittens for the children at Merrymount. We place them on this tree, and the children can take a hat or a pair of mittens home with them. The tree gets replenished throughout the winter!

As part of our programming at Merrymount, our wonderful staff create and plan interactive activities and implement them while the children stay at Merrymount. We use these activities to help build and enhance their coping strategies, and also their social skills. We have been getting a lot of questions about holiday donations and how you can support the children and families who use the Crisis Residential/Respite Program. The donations we are most in need of right now are: - ...Art canvasses - Wooden boxes to paint - New books - Slime kits - Headphones that go over the ears - Dollarama gift cards - Fuse beads (pillar beads) - Board games - Craft kits - Lego sets Other, more expensive items: - Rollerblades of all sizes - Scooters - Sports equipment These donations will be used during actives while they stay at Merrymount, or even given to them as a birthday gift throughout the year. While we are still accepting some donations, they are by appointment only. We encourage you to reach out to us directly so we can help you make a difference this holiday season. Thank you for your support!

It's time for another #MerrymountMonday Meet one of Merrymount’s Service Coordinators, Alice! Alice has been a valued member of the Merrymount team for 13 years now. When the opportunity to work at Merrymount came up, Alice quickly learned what a treasure Merrymount wasand isfor families in times of need and crisis. I felt like it was a chance to be a part of this communityI remember watching smiling little faces of children passing me, holding hands, making their way th...rough Merrymount, I instantly had a feeling of warmth and joy as I sat waiting for my interview. Alice’s favourite part of her job is watching the families move forwardone step at a timewith the right supports and hard work. Their gratitude, happiness and joyful comments can turn a rough day into a great one. A fun fact about Alice is that she has a Goldendoodle dog who acts like she is human (photographed above). She also enjoys the Polish traditions that were passed down to hershe loves sharing them with friends and co-workers.

Did you know that 62% of Ontario youth report having had concerns about their level of anxiety, but only 3 in 10 have spoken to a mental health care professional about anxiety. At Merrymount, we are open to help you and your child 365 days a year, 24/7. We help children to develop the life skills necessary to enhance their self-esteem, social-emotional learning and resiliency for situations they may face.

Have you heard the news? A new fun-raiser is coming to London! Experience all the joy of Bourbon Street, while supporting the thousands of children and families that count on Merrymount every year. Join us virtually on February 11, 2021, for a night of fantastic food, custom cocktails, interactive programming and entertainment.... Tickets on sale now #LdnOnt

A million thanks to the Gold Sponsors of our 2020 Suitcase Party: Club Hub Marketing & Communications, The Canadian Real Estate Association/L'Association canadi...enne de l'immeuble, Red Bird Media, Sutton Group Preferred Realty Inc., Brokerage and Teranet Inc.! The 2020 LSTAR Suitcase Party is a fundraiser in support of Merrymount Family Support & Crisis Centre, Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness in London (Official), and Violence Against Women, Services Elgin County. See more

In our Crisis Residential/Respite Program, the children are encouraged to bring things from home to help them create a more comfortable space for their sleepovers! Often times, children will bring their own blankets, pillows or stuffies. In the headboard, the children are given a little bit of extra space for storage, just for a little added touch of home! We work to create a home away from home

I Spy a few days of warmth & it is the perfect time to get outside and go for a walk! Take your children on a nature walk after school or on the weekend. Let them explore their surroundings and play a game of I Spyit is fun for the whole family! This is a great way to keep your children entertained while getting some fresh air! Be sure to send us pictures of your walking buddies and the objects you find!

Thank you for your service & sacrifice #lestweforget Don’t forget to take a moment of silence today at 11 a.m.

I love Merrymount. We get to sleepover and play outside. We learn about listening and good manners. - Girl, age 6. The Crisis Residential/Respite Program often becomes a child’s home away from home.

Donate because Bella needs you. Become part of something big. It costs $227 to care for one child, for one night, in the Crisis Residential/Respite Program. Donate so Bella can access the care she needs, without judgement and without the wait. Any little bit helps. https://givingtuesday.ca//merrymount-family-support-crisis... Each year, on December 1, we celebrate GivingTuesdaya global movement for giving and volunteering taking place after Black Friday. It is the opening day of the giving season," and it’s a time when charities, companies and individuals join together and rally for their favourite causes. Let us know how you are taking part in GivingTuesday by tagging Merrymount and using the hashtag #GivingForMerrymount.

On National Philanthropy Day, we want to take a moment to say thank you to all of our wonderful donors. Your generous contributions mean we can help more children and families in the London community. Today, and every day, thank you. #NationalPhilanthropyDay #Londont

Happy #merrymountmonday Meet our Executive Director, Paul. Paul has been with Merrymount since July 2018, after 27 years in hospital management, he found himself looking for a change. When the opportunity came to join Merrymount, I jumped at it.Merrymount is an amazing organization, making a huge difference in the lives of over 8,000 families in our community each year.Every day we have the opportunity to make an impactful difference in our community, what more could you... ask for in your job? Paul’s favourite part of his job is watching the positive change occur in families and, especially, in children. Merrymount provides services and skills to improve their lives and help families deal with their unique situations. Some children attend Merrymount as infants and may use some of our various services until they are up to 12 years old.The attachment between the children and the staff is truly wonderful and benefits the children deeply. Fun fact about Paul: I’m a pretty boring guy.I work hard every day to improve Merrymount and our services, and then I love to go home and spend all my free time with my wife and children. Those are the two things that bring joy to my life.(Although, I would be pretty happy if the Leafs ever managed to win the Stanley Cup).

With the Crisis Residential/Respite Program, comes an infant room that cares for infants 0-18 months. The room is home to play mats, rocking chairs, cribs and much more. Our amazing staff ensure each infant is loved while they are in our care Fun fact... the infant room at Merrymount is partnered with Thames Valley Alternative Secondary to assist secondary school-aged students who are either pregnant or new parents so they can continue their education, while learning the responsibility of parenting at the same time. To find out more visit Merrymount.on.ca/community-partner-support

I like the staff at Merrymount, they treat us kindly and help us when we have problems or worries. We make crafts and they help us with our homework - Girl, age 11 Merrymount staff are there to create a home away from home experience. Creating age-appropriate programs & activities to help children develop social and life skills.

Since 2015, Merrymount has been home to the Merrymount Culinary Garden, designed to teach children and families how to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and also, healthy eating. With special thanks to Jill Wilcox and Lisa Nolan, for the wonderful idea to start this garden and spending your time making sure the garden is properly taken care of for the families and children who use it. Not only has Jill played an instrumental role in developing the garden, but she has also taught cooking lessons at Merrymount. Thank you Jill and Lisa for providing such a unique opportunity for our families to learn such a valuable life skill.

Have you seen the beds in our Crisis Residential/Respite Program? Because the children get to add their own touches to it when they stay the night, each bed is always unique. From quilts to drawings hung on the wall, it feels like home. Fun fact... when Merrymount designed the headboards, the children were apart of the design processpicking a headboard that resembles a house. Offering 24/7 continuous care to children 12 years and younger, the CR/RP program makes sure every... child is safe and supported. To find out more, please contact the Merrymount Intake Department by calling 519-434-6848.

I love this place, nobody gets really upset with me when I make a mistake... and they happen a lot - Boy, age 7 Merrymount staff allow children to make mistakes and help them grow. They react in a calm, understanding manner and assist them with problem-solving and learning new coping strategies.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in this year's HHTH fundraiser. Your support means the world to us!

Today is World Mental Health Day. A day for us to recognize the importance of ending the stigma, and acknowledging the impact mental health can have on all of us. This year has been a year of change & uncertainty. Let’s meet ourselves, and others, with more compassion and less judgement. Mental Health Matters. ... #MIAW20 #worldmentalhealthday

Merrymount’s unique children’s programs are designed to help children develop the life skills necessary to enhance their self-esteem, social emotional learning and resiliency for the situations they face at home, at school or in their community. #MIAW20 We are offering some of our programs virtually, contact us for the most up to date information.... All facts are from Children’s Mental Health Ontario. See more

Did you know that 70 per cent of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence? However, many of these children are not receiving the treatment they need. Merrymount offers a range of programs and services. If you child is struggling with their self-esteem, Heroes could be a great option for you. Offering the program over Zoom, Heroes focuses on building your child’s self-esteem and viewing themselves as a hero. #MIAW20

As an accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre, Merrymount understands your child’s struggles, and we are here to help. We provide around-the-clock family capacity building and support services, for children aged 0 to 12, across London/Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford counties. Merrymount provides a wide range of crisis, respite and early intervention mental health services and programs to strengthen children and their families. October 4 marked the beginning of Mental Health ...Awareness Week. Stay tuned for more information about children’s mental health, and how Merrymount can help. #MIAW20 We are offering some of our programs virtually, contact us for the most up to date information. All facts are from Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

Merrymount serves, on average, 8000 families every year. 2020 has changed how we reach our families, but through it all, our commitment has never changed. Our programs have adapted along the way to ensure we are serving all of our families the best way we can. #factfriday