Youth Voices, Youth Hope: Embracing Diversity of Needs and Challenges
Description of Workshop/Presentation:
Participants will have the opportunity to focus on youth mental health reality, change, action and hope using evidence-based and international best practices, informed by the voices of youth with lived experience of mental health.
The workshop will feature our national documentary film on youth mental health issues, “Youth Voices, Youth Hope”, to highlight the challenges of mental ill health in the education system and the role of societal systems in creating the change that is required for suicide prevention and hope.
The film involved 150 youth from 3 provinces, as well as many prominent Canadian mental health advocates including Clara Hughes, Mary Walsh, Amelia Curran and Seamus O’Regan. Music was contributed by the Amabile Children’s Choir in London, Ontario, the internationally renowned composer and conductor, Jim Papoulis from New York City and Shay Esposito, a young artist from Edmonton, Alberta.
Theme: It Takes a Nation
Youth have made this film, a film rooted in the trauma and struggle of so many youth, to influence that change that is needed and to support youth who too often feel alone, isolated, ignored, judged and dismissed. The message in our film is that “Youth Matter”. “Youth Voices, Youth Hope” puts young people at the centre of the conversation on youth mental health reality, barriers in education and healthcare and hope that impacts lives.
Amplifying the voices of youth has the power to inform policymakers, compel public action and ultimately affects the lives of youth. Our film represents a diversity of perspectives and experiences, backgrounds and identities.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child created the first international mechanism stipulating the systemic engagement of youth voice. This is a film made by youth, for youth, about youth.
Youth with lived experience of mental health made this film to encourage youth empowerment, inspire positive mental health and well-being and implore society to respond to youth needs and recommendations to our youth mental health crisis in Canada.
Mental health belongs to all of us. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
Participatory and Interactive Workshop/Presentation:
After screening the 50 minute youth mental health film, participants will have the opportunity to discuss the following areas in large group format, small groups or through a panel discussion.
- Implementing international best practices in Canada
- Implementing youth recommendations and responding to youth needs with school-based solutions
- Implementing coordinated responses to youth mental health issues, with consideration of episodic and chronic differences.
The film highlights a number of international best practices and personal recommendations from youth and mental health advocates which will help act as a springboard for a bigger discussion on strategic and comprehensive ways to employ coordinated, timely, effective and innovative responses to the range of mental health challenges that youth experience.