March 2025

Kids Can’t Wait

By |March 4th, 2025|

Only 1 in 5 Canadians Know Kids Get Arthritis. Help Us Change That. Many people mistakenly believe arthritis only affects older adults but in reality, Juvenile Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic childhood disability in Canada, affecting over 25,000 children and youth. Low awareness and dangerous myths are putting kids [...]

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February 2025

25,000 Kids Can’t Wait

By |February 18th, 2025|

25,000 Kids Can't Wait. Watch this space for updates on how you can join our campaign to ensure that the 25,000 kids and families affected by JA and other rheumatic diseases have the support they need this #JIAAwarenessMonth #JIAAwarenessMonth Connection Event for Youth #JIAAwarenessMonth Connection Event [...]

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January 2025

Transforming Mental Health for Youth With Rheumatic Diseases

By |January 22nd, 2025|Blog, Current Research, Mental Health, Mental Health (Caregivers), Mental Health (For Youth), News, Research|

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day, and this year’s theme is sounding the alarm on a growing crisis in Canada: Youth mental health. This issue is deeply important to us at Cassie + Friends, as we work every day to support young people living with rheumatic diseases and their families. A recent report [...]

October 2024

Building Community and Mental Health Support for Students with Rheumatic Diseases: Ciara’s Story

By |October 10th, 2024|Blog, Mental Health, Mental Health (For Youth), Ontario, Resources, Stories, Toronto|

Building Community and Mental Health Support for Students with Rheumatic Diseases: Ciara’s Story Living with a chronic condition like a rheumatic disease can be especially challenging for young people, not only physically but also mentally. It's no surprise that 40% of youth diagnosed with a rheumatic disease experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or [...]

April 2024

Youth Mental Health Research Funding Announcement

By |April 22nd, 2024|

On April 11, 2024, after a rigorous selection process, Cassie + Friends and Brain Canada have selected two life-transforming and innovative research projects to receive a combined total of $480,00 in funding dedicated to transforming the lives and mental wellness of children and teens impacted by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. [...]

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Youth Mental Health Strategy Funding Announcement

By |April 10th, 2024|Advocacy, Blog, Current Research, Future Research, Home Page, Mental Health, Mental Health (Caregivers), Mental Health (For Youth), News, Research|

Youth Mental Health Strategy Funding Announcement       NEWS RELEASE Two Canadian teams awarded new funding to study mental illness in youth with rheumatic diseases. Brain Canada and Cassie + Friends unveil the recipients of the Addressing Mental Health in Paediatric Rheumatic Diseases Team Grants program. Source: Brain Canada MONTREAL, April [...]

November 2023

October 2023

Seeing Possibilities after Diagnosis: a Uveitis Story

By |October 24th, 2023|About JIA, Advice, Advocacy, Blog, CREW, Rare Disease, Saskatchewan, Stories, Uveitis|

Throughout my life I have been granted many titles; mom, wife, daughter, registered nurse, and writer are just a few. These are the titles that are associated with my name. I could be described as outgoing, humorous, modest, and perhaps kind too. These would be some characteristics that people from a distance would use [...]

Lily’s Journey to Diagnosis, Methotrexate, and Finding A Community of Support

By |October 19th, 2023|Injection, JIA, Medication, Methotrexate, Newly Diagnosed, School, School Toolkit, TMJ|

Meet Lily. One morning, at the young age of 2, our daughter Lily woke up limping and her left knee looked slightly swollen. She didn't seem to show that she was in pain, but was refraining from putting weight on her left leg. We had no idea what happened and didn't recall any [...]

Mental Health Workgroup

By |October 17th, 2023|Advocacy, Mental Health, Mental Health (For Youth), Research|

National Pediatric Rheumatology Mental Health Workgroup Cassie + Friends has led the formation of a new workgroup on Pediatric Rheumatology Mental Health to improve mental health care and outcomes for children with rheumatologic diseases. The goal of this Mental Health Workgroup is to develop strategies to improve research, care, and outcomes about mental [...]

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