Youth Mental Health Canada is a community-based, grass roots, youth-driven and led non-profit organization focused on education and advocacy for youth mental health change.
We advocate for needs-based, direct funding, culturally sensitive, trauma-informed mental health supports, services and educational accommodations. We believe in the importance of youth, family and community engagement in mental health education, support, advocacy and change. Lived experience of mental health challenges and disabilities and suicide thoughts, attempts and loss must guide and lead the change needed. Greater collaboration is required amongst youth, families, educators, mental health and health care organizations and professionals and government officials and agencies.
We believe that mental health and physical health should be valued equally. We need immediate and effective responses to mental health issues and crises. Waiting one year to access therapy, have a psychological-educational assessment and/or participate in in-patient or out-patient programs needs to change. We know what works for youth with mental health disabilities in the school system and we strongly advocate for suicide prevention strategies that demonstrate the value we place on the lives of all youth in Canada.
We share international best practice and evidence-based news and information on youth mental health issues.
Please feel free to share your ideas, insights, stories, input, questions, news and research with us.