"Mental health is a serious issue and young people are speaking out."
Andrei Biltan in The New Mentality Video
The New Mentality engages youth and professionals to improve mental health services and reduce the stigma of mental illness.
Our Youth Leaders are between the ages 13 to 25. While only 75% of our Youth Leaders have a diagnosed mental illness, everyone recognizes mental health as a serious issue.
Our Youth Leaders can volunteer as a New Mentality Speaker, a New Mentality Group Facilitator or a New Mentality Group Member.
The New Mentality works to embed the practice of Youth Engagement in mental health organizations by supporting New Mentality Groups within mental health centres, providing a training program on Youth Engagement theory & facilitate the engagement of youth in focus groups, meetings & conferences.
The New Mentality (poem)
by Ritallin. View the whole poem here.
steppin' forth in alliance
adults and young people
in a mutual reliance
usin' voices in defiance
they risin'
pushin' new ideas to the fore
with creative enterprisin'
i'm taking ownership
of this new relationship
engagement is the key
to spark the New Mentality
"My involvement with The New Mentality has given me magnificent insight about the world of mental health, including those who face it, live it and challenge it every day. Now, working with youth and adult allies to raise awareness about important issues concerning mental illness is part of who I am and what I believe in." New Mentality Youth Leader
"I’m involved in the project because I believe in advocating for youth and that youth have a voice and I believe that it’s important for youth to have a say in their program planning and their service treatment." Adult Ally