Young people's mental health

The Youth Research Academy is made up of youth and young adults with experience living in government care. They work as researchers with McCreary Centre Society, bringing perspectives and experiences that are often left out of youth health research. Youth-led research teams ensure that other young people see themselves in projects and have information they need—and the process, in turn, transforms the researchers.

Kristy shares practices in meaningful engagement with youth advisors that she and her team developed for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s BounceBack Youth Advisory Committee.

When young people experience trauma, abuse, abandonment, or other difficult experiences, the system labels them "at risk" or "vulnerable" and makes it sound like the youth themselves are the problem. But the real problem is in the stigma and discrimination that excludes and marginalizes youth who are just trying to survive the best they can. When we build positive relationships with youth and offer inclusive and non-judgemental support, we bring people into our communities rather than push them aside.

It was hard to find contributors for this issue of Visions. Not because there is a shortage of stories or experiences, but because young people who have been marginalized don’t have many reasons to trust another mental health and substance use organization. We are grateful for the young people who gave us a chance, and we’re inspired by the leadership, resilience, and activism from the youth in this issue.