Empower Canadian Youth by Reducing Stress and Fostering ResiliencyChantal Garneau

This project combines elements of mental health promotion, community engagement, environmental sustainability, and mindfulness meditation to bring forward positive messaging that assists youth to:

• Understand the nature of stress and how to cope with it 
• Feel valuable and purposeful 
• Stop/slow down thoughts, improve sleep and relax 
• Identify their purpose in life 
• Release anxiety 
• Feel good and have positive thoughts

We are in the developmental stages and the $100,000 is necessary for initial start up costs, project evaluation, sustainability documentation, and to fund the key deliverables over the next 12 months.

Key Deliverables:

1. Develop an advisory group with community partners
2. Facilitate 30 workshops with 300 Canadian indigenous youth, youth in care, northern youth, and mainstream youth
3. Produce relevant website/online social media campaign with videos and mp3s
4. Create and distribute 300 resource kits
5. Participate at national and local youth conferences

This project is a call to action. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Canadian youth. Stress levels are on the rise. Social agencies are overwhelmed. Schools are overwhelmed. Youth are overwhelmed. By developing and sharing resources that empower youth to protect, grow and where needed, heal, their mental, emotional and spiritual health we are not only directly helping youth, but also the services created to support them. Agencies and schools will have access to resource kits including; mp3’s and videos, an instructor manual and lesson plans. Online availability and social media promotion will broaden the reach of access and will help to normalize thinking about mental health. More than ever, the ability to adapt, problem solve and stay calm amidst growing demands and pressure is necessary. Youth with these skills will develop into successful individuals and productive citizens. Thank you for your support.