Youth Social Relations

Youth-led Mental Well-being Campaign

What is our challenge?

Bring awareness to the rising levels of poor mental well-being amongst youth by helping create a youth-led campaign aiming to increase positive social youth relations within educational settings.

Help build a platform where youth can voice their thoughts and personal experiences about/with mental well-being.

Design a campaign/tool-box/system, and can be implemented it in educational settings, which raises awareness, takes preventative actions and serves as a space where youth can develop positive social relations.

Increasing mental well-being awareness early is key.

Why does it matter?

Recent studies have shown that depression and isolation among youth have been a serious problem in educational settings for over a decade.

This disturbing trend appears to be on the rise.

Many programs have been developed to tackle this issue including guidance counseling, peer awareness, and regular events such as “Mindful Mondays.” However, very few of these programs can be viewed as either revolutionary or entirely successful. The majority of these programs have been both adult-developed and adult-led.

The problem we face is not lack of awareness. Rather, it is that the conversation is adult dominated.

Who does it impact?

Youth

Teachers, school boards, principles, teachers, guidance counselors and other school staff members.

Parents, caregivers and family members.

Caring Adults

What is your current solution to that challenge?

Youth-led campaign/tool-box/system.
- Peer mentoring system into schools, similar to Big Brother Big Sisters of Canada.
  - First stage: Youth involvement and input.
    - Survey: To interact with youth, ages 9 – 14, and provide them with a platform to discuss with us their opinions on the current mental well-being initiatives in their schools. Who they feel comfortable talking to about mental well-being.
  - Second Stage:
    - Curate and organize the survey results.
    - Create the outline for an in-school program that will not only benefit the students but reflect their needs.
  - The third Stage:
    - Pilot campaign in 4 different educational settings.

What progress have you made over the last six weeks?

Students are aware of the importance of discussing mental well-being but are unsure on how to do so.
Most students are comfortable talking to adults, their friends and family members about their mental well being rather than older students.
Only half of the students said their school somewhat supports their mental well being.
The majority agree that it is important to have youth-led campaigns in their community and 61% of students said 'yes or maybe' to help build the campaign.

What is working well and what is not?

Winter Term Goals:

Further our understanding on ethics and confidentiality frameworks.

Continue to learn about project management
strategies and tools.

Discuss with a potential mentor (suggested ones in psychology, social work, school
system) how to accurately facilitate the Community Discussion Night.

Further our understanding on how to navigate conversations with youth.