HAMILTON, ONTARIO - April 22, 2025 - Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC), a charitable nonprofit organization focused on youth mental health and suicide prevention, proudly announces the completion of its "Sources of Strength" mental wellness workbook translated into Inuktitut. This culturally responsive resource is now available at no cost to students, families, educators, and mental health professionals across Nunavut.
The project, funded by the Tachane Foundation, directly addresses the urgent mental health needs in Nunavut, which reports Canada's highest rates of suicide and self-harm. In 2022, suicide rates in the territory reached 72 per 100,000 people, with self-harm rates at 360.3 per 100,000—five to 25 times higher than the rest of Canada, with youth disproportionately affected.
"By providing these evidence-based resources in Inuktitut, we're taking a meaningful step toward addressing the mental health crisis in Nunavut while honoring the importance of language and cultural context," said Sheryl Boswell, Executive Director of YMHC. "This initiative aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action regarding Indigenous language education and support."
The "Sources of Strength" workbook contains practical tools for building resilience, including hands-on activities to develop:
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Coping skills and strategies
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Effective problem-solving techniques
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Stress management methods
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Resilience-building activities
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Self-awareness and self-care
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Automatic negative thoughts reframing activities
For a preview of the workbook, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5OhTfXcbuI
"Mental wellness resources in one's own language can be life-changing and potentially life-saving," Boswell added. "We're committed to making these tools accessible to every student in Nunavut who needs them."
This initiative represents the first phase of YMHC's broader commitment to Indigenous communities. The organization has already donated over $55,000 worth of mental wellness resources to Indigenous communities in 2024 and plans donations of print wellness workbooks to remote Indigenous communities this year.
About Youth Mental Health Canada
Youth Mental Health Canada (YMHC) is an educator and youth-led charitable nonprofit organization (CRA #771374915 RR 0001) focused on mental health education, support, advocacy, and systemic change. Since 2013, YMHC has provided essential, accessible, and meaningful resources designed by educators with input from youth with lived experience of mental health challenges. YMHC approaches mental health issues through a human rights, social justice, and equity lens.
About the Sources of Strength Workbook
The Sources of Strength workbook was developed by Sheryl Boswell, an educator with experience teaching elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and adult education students in Canada and Africa. All YMHC workbooks are evidence-based, strength-focused, peer-reviewed resources that incorporate social-emotional learning, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy strategies.
Contact Information
Sheryl Boswell
Executive Director
Youth Mental Health Canada
Email: admin @ YouthMentalHealth.ca
Phone: (647) 952-9642
Website: www.ymhc.ngo
YMHC Charitable Foundation
51 Stuart St.
Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 1B5