New Mentality Groups
Youth can make a difference in their communities by helping to “disable the label” of mental illness and make the mental health services more youth-friendly by leading or joining a New Mentality Group.
Group Model
The New Mentality Group model is formal and evaluated group model that has proven to meaningfully engage youth and help youth make a difference in their communities. Each group meets regularly within a child and youth mental health centre to create a anti-stigma project and work with staff on other projects that make the centre more youth-friendly. Youth may or may not have mental illness, may or may not be former/current clients & may or may not have any previous volunteer experience.
Ingredients
| 2 | Group Facilitators- Youth who work together to plan and facilitate weekly/bi-weekly group meetings |
| 1 | Child and Youth Mental Health agency: Host- where the meetings are held, the money is flowed and the staff are employed |
| 1 | Adult ally: A staff member who partners with The Group Facilitator and helps facilitate meetings |
| 6-8 | Group Participants: Youth - clients, former clients, or interested young people Meetings/Month |
| 1 | Anti-stigma project |
Group Goals:
Network with other youth interested in mental health issues
Speak out about mental health locally and provincially
Advocate for the availability of high quality mental health services
Get involved in youth-serving mental health organizations
Group Values:
Youth who are directly affected should be listened to
Effective advocacy requires adults and youth working together
Partnerships between organizations are necessary
Organizations must create opportunities for youth to get involved
Training is provided to Youth Facilitators and Adult Allies once a year on how to effectively implement a New Mentality Group.