Susan Hess lost her husband Gerald at a young age to suicide as a result of depression, daughter Leah also faced with mental disorders as a young child.

"Leah became invisible", Susan told more than 100 Grade 12 students at Confederation Secondary School in Val Caron on Monday. "(But) mental health services gave my daughter back to me, literally saved my daughter's life".

Since 2003, Hess is attributed to make 300 appearances to nudge understanding and acceptance for children and youth who have mental health issues.

In addition, Hess is attributed as the vital force behind the 28-patch quilt that features the sentences, "We are children with mental illness. We have faces. We have names. We have hearts. We have feelings. We need your understanding. We need your support".

She told to students fetching assistance is the initial step for anyone suffering with a mental health disorder. It's also important, she said, that the stigma associated with mental illness end.

It is reported that nearly 20% of Ontarians will witness a diagnosable mental illness this year, yet only 33% and one in six kids - has access to mental health care.

The Liberals have raised health expenditure by $11.5 billion. However, only $200 million was invested in mental health care, which is insufficient to pose an impact at the system level, according to government research.