WORKING WITH OUR YOUTH TODAY

FOR HEALTHY MINDS TOMORROW

By: Candace Bell, Lauren Denstedt,
Justin Merpaw, Paulina Wyszkiewicz
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
On a device, go to kahoot.it and enter the game PIN
or scan the QR code on the screen.
STATISTICS ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
An estimated 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are affected by mental
1 illness—yet, less than 20 per cent will receive appropriate treatment.

Youth who are engaged in child and adolescent mental health services, and
2 who require continued services, are often not well supported as they
prepare to enter the adult mental health system.

3 In 2016, suicide accounted for 19% of deaths among youth aged 10 to 14,
29% among youth aged 15 to 19, and 23% among young adults aged 20-24.

First Nations youth die by suicide about 5 to 6 times more often than non-
4
Aboriginal youth.
Youth Mental Health Stats in Canada. YMHC. (2022).
WHAT IS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT?
The meaningful participation and sustained involvement of young individuals
in an activity, including education, personal interests, and extracurriculars

Sentiment felt towards an activity

Central to positive youth development
Working together towards shared goals
Recognizes young people’s right to participate in
decisions that impact them
Empowers young individuals to address issues that
they believe to be important
 THREE LEVELS OF
EFFECTIVE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
1 2 3

INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL SYSTEM

e.g. increased personal
skills, healthy choices, and
sense of identity
e.g. stronger positive
connections with friends and
adults, and a larger support
network
e.g. greater civic
engagement, policies and
programs responsive to the
needs of young people, and
new creative ways to govern
THINK!
WITH
or
FOR?
Working with Youth
Participation

Impact

Future Community
Involvement
 WHAT DOES
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
LOOK LIKE?
SIMPLE TO ASK, YET HARD TO ANSWER
YOUTH -ADULT PARTNERSHIPS
(Y-AP)

YOUTH = ADULT
HOW DO I BECOME INVOLVED?
 GIVE US YOUR INPUT!

1 3

ASSESSING IMPLEMENTING
take part in tell your friends about the
needs assessment projects, 2 programs, join local boards
4
or surveys that have youth positions
We want to know We want you to help us
PLANNING make decisions!
EVALUATING
what you need!
help create activities that help create and administer
you know your friends and surveys/ feedback forms
peers like We want to know how you
We want to know what you think it’s going!
want to do!
COMMUNITY YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
PROGRAMS IN OTTAWA
YNRA A mental health promotion
and intervention
organization focused on
peer to peer support.

For youth, by youth

Bilingual
Ages 13-20
Also provides resources for
adult allies to support youth
YNRA PROGRAMS Youth Advisory Committee
(YAC)

Monthly Coping Challenge

(@cheoyouth Instagram)
8 Week Self Care Program
Pens and Paint
Pop Up Events
Chronic Pain Connect
Winter Wellness
Rooted Summer Program
Drop-in Program
 Ottawa Youth Engagement
YOUTH OTTAWA Committee (OYEC)

Ages 15-24
Youth Leader or Network
Member
Consult with City of Ottawa
Departments; lower-income
bus pass; racial/cultural
sensitivity training; Mayor for
a Day program
ADDITIONAL YOUTH
OTTAWA PROGRAMS
Artistic Mentorship
Program (AMP)
Active Citizenship
Initiative (ACI)
Youth Active Media
(YAM)
Rainbow Bridges
CITY OF OTTAWA &
OTTAWA POLICE
SERVICE Ottawa Public Library:
Teen Advisory Groups
Ottawa Police Youth
Advisory Committee
Paint it Up
RURAL OTTAWA Mental health support for
youth ages 12-24 in rural
YOUTH Ottawa

Youth Advisory Committee

representing youth with lived
experience of needing
mental health support
Youth Summit: empower
youth to become leaders in
their communities
CHALLENGES TO YOUTH ENGAGMENT

LACK OF AWARENESS
LIMITED ACCESS
STIGMA/PEER PRESSURE
TRUST
future directions on youth engagement

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT
ONLINE/TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
DIVERSITY AWARENESS
DETRIMENTS TO IGNORING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

HINDERING FULL POTENTIAL/ESCALATION

ENTRENCHING STIGMA
FUTURE ADULTS
ANY QUESTIONS?
 REFERENCES
1. Youth Mental Health Stats in Canada. Youth Mental Health Canada. (2022, February
13). https://ymhc.ngo/resources/ymh-stats/
2. Youth engagement. Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and
Addictions. (n.d.). https://www.cymha.ca/en/projects/youth-engagement.aspx?
_mid_=103124#Introduction-video
3. What is youth engagement, really?. Youth Development Program Toolkit. ACT for
Youth. (n.d.). https://actforyouth.net/program-toolkit/youth-engagement/
4. What is Youth Engagement?. Centres of Excellence for Children’s Well-Being. (n.d.).
https://archives.studentscommission.ca/pdf/Whatis_WEB_e.pdf
5. Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health Youth Engagement Toolkit. The
Students Commission: Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement. (n.d.).
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/eecd_YETOOL_E.pdf
6. City of Ottawa. (2022). Get Involved. https://ottawa.ca/en/family-and-social-
services/youth/get-involved#section-d38ded72-dda9-413a-a751-bd5a50998453
7. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. (2023). Engagement and Connectedness.
https://www.ocdsb.ca/cms/one.aspx?portalId=55478&pageId=33431255
8. Ottawa Catholic School Board. (2023). Focus on Youth Program.
https://conted.ocsb.ca/summer-programs/focus-on-youth-program/
9. Rural Ottawa Youth. (2023). Youth Advisory Council.
https://www.ruralottawayouth.ca/youth-advisory-council.html
10. YouthNet RéseauAdo. (2023). Youth Engagement. http://ynra.ca/learning-hub/youth-
engagement/
11. Youth Ottawa. (2017). Programs. https://www.youthottawa.ca/programs/