ABOUT US
This project has allowed me to collaborate with others in my community I wouldn’t have ever talked to otherwise. I joined to have a fun time and learn about mental health and this project has allowed me to do both of these things. ~ Sienna
YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS
mindyourmind will be working in communities across Canada, engaging with young people to provide the space for them to harness their power and lived experience, co-creating tools that support mental health and wellness. We accomplish this through open and inclusive Design Labs, held in-person and online. The youthexperts project inspires young people to thrive, build skills, and create meaningful coping tools for themselves and their peers.
1. MENTAL HEALTH
We are passionate about reducing stigma and bringing awareness to our global community about mental health and wellness.
2. YOUTH PARTICIPATION
We understand that young people have the expertise, experience, and excitement to drive community change. Youth are the experts and need a platform to express themselves.
3. LEADERSHIP
We believe in building up our young people and do this by empowering youth to take the lead with their projects, and becoming leaders in their communities.
4. SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Young people are given the opportunity to develop their skills in: event planning, facilitation, grant writing and fundraising, marketing, evaluation, and more! We want our young people to have transferable skills to bring forward into their lives.
5. SOCIAL CHANGE
Some of the most passionate advocates are young people themselves. By leveraging their skills and assets they can address social issues and create the change they want to see.
OUR TEAM
Heather
DIRECTOR
Simran
YOUTH LIAISON
Joshua
RESEARCH & EVALUATION LEAD
Carolyn
CURRICULUM DEVELOPER
Kyle
GRAPHIC & WEB DESIGNER
Michelle
CREATIVE LEAD
Scarlett
ENGAGEMENT, PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR
Elora
BE SAFE COORDINATOR
About mindyourmind
mindyourmind exists in the space where mental health, wellness, engagement and technology meet. We work with young people aged 14-29 to co-create interactive tools and innovative resources to build capacity and resilience.
We do this through our Design Studio model, in which young people work directly with facilitators, content experts, and designers to brainstorm, design, and develop our projects. Our goals are to promote wellness, reduce the stigma around mental health, and increase access to community supports, both professional and peer-based.
At mindyourmind, young people are valued as experts in their own experience and choose to engage in whichever way makes sense for them. Youth are involved in everything that we do, every step of the way. We explore, co-create and prototype using iterative cycles that involve youth and adult partners to discuss and design what matters to them in mental health.
The organization operates like a family. I have always felt valued and supported, and they have inspired me to value and support others in the same way. I have developed many meaningful and reciprocal relationships from this organization.
~ Oline
Everything we do originates through interaction with youth and the professionals who serve them. Working alongside young people, every actor in the system has the potential to make meaningful change in how we conceptualize and ensure the mental well-being of Canadian youth. mindyourmind impacts systems change by increasing the capacity of young people to reach out, get help and give help through the use of technology, engagement and research-informed innovation.