Youth Wellness and Education
Low-mood, stress and anxiety don’t wait for you to be ready. Acknowledging your mental health early can make a difference. The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that that total number of 12 to 19 year olds at risk of depression is a staggering 3.2 million. This means that close to 30% of Canadian youth could be affected. Helping youth help themselves with youth wellness and education is becoming increasingly important.
CMHA serves youth and young adults offering prevention-based education sessions for youth and youth leaders in school and club settings to address youth substance use, mental health promotion and suicide prevention, equipping youth with knowledge and tools to help manage mental health and wellness through building relationships and providing a knowledge-base of community resources to access help.
- Y-Mind (Teen Mindfulness)
- Living Life to the Full for Youth
- Bounce Back®: For Youth
- Youth Connections
- Kids in Control
- Youth Group
- Youth Advisory Committee Application
Y-Mind (Teen Mindfulness)
Do you worry a lot about school? Do you worry about making friends or stress about what others think of you? You’re not alone – everyone experiences worry, anxiety, and stress.
Everybody experiences stress, anxiety and uncomfortable emotions – it’s normal. How we cope with these feelings and emotions can make the difference in how we interact with those around us, activities and opportunities or moving forward in a way that allows us to live our best life.
CMHA Vernon & District, in partnership with the YMCA, is facilitating a Y-Mind Teen Mindfulness group series. The group supports youth ages 13 to 18 experiencing anxiety symptoms and allows youth to learn and practice healthy coping strategies to manage their symptoms better. The group provides an opportunity to connect with other youth who are going through similar experiences.
The course is facilitated in a safe, fun and supportive group environment that will enable you to understand what anxiety is and why our body and mind respond the way they do. They will help youth learn and practice healthy coping strategies to manage stress and anxiety better.
Eligibility:
- Ages 13-18 and experiencing anxiety, stress, and/or worrying (no formal diagnosis required).
- Ability to attend one information session, as well as all group sessions.
- Not currently experiencing moderate to severe mental health symptoms.
If you have questions about Y-Mind (Teen Mindfulness) please reach out to [email protected]
For more information or to register for our next group:
Y-Mind Teen Mindfulness
Living Life to the Full for Youth
Living Life to the Full for Youth is a fun, interactive course that will leave youth with the inspiration and tools to get the most out of life. Offered as part of the Blue Wave youth mental health program, this course has been shown to improve mood and well-being and reduce stress and anxiety.
Living Life to the Full for Youth is an eight-week community-based course that provides simple, practical skills for coping with stress, problem solving, boosting your mood, and busting bad thoughts. Adapted from the adult course, the course is designed for youth ages 13-18.
Living Life to the Full certified facilitators present a new topic at each weekly class, bringing the skills to life though booklets, worksheets, group activities and discussions.
If you have questions about Living Life to the Full for Youth please reach out to [email protected]
For more information or to register for our next course:
Living Life to the Full for Youth Referral and Registration
Bounce Back®: For Youth
We all feel sad sometimes. But when feeling low, stressed out, worried, depressed, irritable, angry – or even nothing at all – gets to be too much, remember that you do have the power to change how you feel.
Choose what’s best for you from our 3 platforms. Your journey, your pace.
BounceBack® Coaching: If you like having someone motivate and encourage you to reflect, the coaching program may be right for you. A trained BounceBack® coach will help you learn skills to improve your mental health in up to six telephone sessions over three to six months. Your coach will help keep you on track and offer support as you work through the program materials. You design your own program by selecting materials from 20 different modules. Coaching + workbooks are available in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese or Punjabi.
To learn more or to register visit click here. Direct them to this webpage: https://bouncebackbc.ca/bounceback-coaching/
BounceBack® Online: If you prefer to work independently, check out our online program. Access 20 modules that include workbooks, interactive worksheets and videos designed to help you overcome low-mood and worry. Set your own schedule and get the tools you need to help yourself. Workbooks are available in English.
To learn more or to register visit click here. Direct them to this webpage: https://online.bouncebackonline.ca/
BounceBack® Today Video: If you’re not quite ready for the BounceBack® Coaching or Online, or are waiting for your coaching sessions to begin, check out our series of online videos. The videos will provide you with practical tips on managing your mood, sleeping better, building confidence, increasing activity, problem solving and healthy living. Videos are available in English, French, Farsi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Punjabi.
Use this access code to register: bbtodaybc
To learn more or to register visit click here; https://www.bouncebackvideo.ca/
FAQs -You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers; https://bouncebackbc.ca/youth-faqs/
Youth Connections
CMHA-Vernon offers FREE Youth Connections Mental Health workshops for high school students in school settings. These workshops are from one to two hours in length, and provide youth with various tools, skills, and resources to take care of their mental health.
Some topics of discussion include:
- Anxiety in Youth
- Introduction to Mindfulness
- Mental Health Resources for Youth
- Youth and Mental Illness
The team can also customize the workshops based on the needs of your students. During COVID-19 the workshops may be provided in person (following proper guidelines) or virtually via ZOOM and must be booked at least two weeks in advance.
For more information or to book a workshop please email [email protected]
Kids in Control
Kids in Control also aims to increase knowledge and understanding of mental illness. When there is a clearer understanding of mental illness, children and youth can foster compassion for their parent or sibling. It also provides the necessary language to talk about mental illness, which creates opportunities to articulate needs, access resources and process their experiences. This all helps provide a greater sense of security for children and youth.
We use a variety of activities and games to educate and support each participant. Most importantly, children and youth decide which activities to take part in. This reinforces that they are in control of some things, even if other aspects of their lives are not within their control.
Classes include:
- Group Building and Storytelling
- Group Building and Learning to Identify Feelings
- Learning about Healthy Boundaries and How to Communicate Feelings
- Learning About Mental Illness
- Learning about the Treatment of Mental Illness
- Developing Resiliency
- Societal Attitudes and Stigma
- Self-Care and Self Esteem
For more information please email us at [email protected]
For a referral to Kids in Control you can complete a fillable online form below or email [email protected]
Youth Group
Youth Group is a free group for youth that are living with mild to moderate mental health concerns. The group meets once a month for a day of recreational, educational and social activities. The purpose of the group is to introduce youth to a peer support model, while teaching healthy coping and life skills.
The Youth Group has a maximum capacity of 12 youth. If the group is full youth will be added to the wait-list. Youth are expected to commit to attending the group every month.
If you have questions about the Youth Group please reach out [email protected]
For more information or to register for our next group:
Youth Group Referral and Registration
What does it mean to be on the Youth Advisory Committee?
The Youth Advisory Committee advises on developing the Youth Integrated Service Hub. Youth use their experience as young people in the community to ensure that the youth informs the space, programs, and youth services. Youth will be given the opportunity to join and participate in meetings with community service providers and organizations. We seek youth passionate about making change, working together on projects/events, and growing together as a team.
Are you looking for:
Sense of community. When participants meet and interact with community organizations, they build a sense of community with other participants and other members of the community.
Accomplishment. Participants will develop a sense of accomplishment that increases self-esteem and self-worth.
Responsibility. Members will have opportunities to co-facilitating workshops, advocate for solutions to issues that affect youth, support their peers, and work with stakeholders to build safe and inclusive programming/spaces for all youth.
Graduation credits. The Youth Advisory Committees’ time can be put towards Capstone graduation requirements.
Opportunities. Committee members can gain skills such as public speaking, group participation, and additional educational opportunities.
Apply today to be a part of the Youth Advisory Committee!
To join the Youth Advisory Committee, youth must be:
- Live in the North Okanagan.
- Able to commit a minimum of 2 hours once per month.
**Committee members are provided with an honorarium/reimbursement for their skills, expertise and time.
Questions? Contact [email protected]
To join the Youth Advisory Committee, please fill out the below. Downloadable PDF version available here.
Youth Advisory Committee Application
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