Parenting Through the Storm: Supporting a parent who has a child who is struggling with a mental health, neurodevelopmental, or behavioural challenge. Children’s Mental Health Ontario estimates that one in five children under the age of 17 lives with “a mental health disorder causing significant distress and impairing their functioning at home, at school, with peers, or in the community.” And when a child is struggling, parents can feel helpless and overwhelmed. Employee assistance programmes are in a unique position to help and support parents so that they, in turn, can help and support a child who is struggling. This practical workshop focuses on coping strategies for parents who have a child who is facing a mental health, neurodevelopmental, or behavioural challenge. Topics to be discussed include self-care, self-compassion, creating your own support network, parenting strategies, and lifestyle matters (nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management, and making time for fun). This presentation is based on interviews with more than 50 parents who have walked this walk and who are eager to share their best advice with other parents. These interviews formed the basis for Ann Douglas’ new book Parenting Through the Storm (HarperCollins Canada, January 2015).