With You in Mind
Year 2
An Initiative Aimed to Develop Youth’s Skills in Navigating Mental Health
Funded by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse and Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon through the Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN), year 2 of With You in Mind was a youth-led mental health initiative back for its second year. The focus was on all things peer support. But what exactly is that?
Peer support refers to the emotional and practical support between two or more people who share a common experience, such as a mental health challenge or illness. With You in Mind championed peer support as a tool to sustain youth mental health, and foster a sense of belonging among English-speaking youth who might share similar struggles.
In 2022, the With You in Mind Youth Advisory Committee hosted a series of coffee chats in Montréal, Gatineau and the Magdalen Islands. Coffee chats involved informal group discussions which allowed youth to gather and share stories and resources pertaining to their mental health journeys. Taking place virtually (with the exception of the Magdalen Islands coffee chat, which took place in person), coffee chats were open to anyone interested in joining the conversation, or in simply listening in. For our final event of 2022, our Youth Advisory Committee extended a warm welcome to 40 interested youth (ages 16-30) to take part in a remote, confidential, and non-judgemental Peer Support Focus Group. Having received training in active listening, crisis intervention, and peer support best practices, our Youth Advisors-turned-Peer Supporters were equipped to facilitate and lead the discussion. This was a great opportunity for English-speaking youth to engage, in a peer-to-peer capacity, with their mental health.
We believe that supporting mental health and well-being is essential.
We have compiled a list of free mental health resources. If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs emotional support, these resources can help.
Interested to find out about the activities and professionals involved in With You in Mind Year 1?
Take a look here.
Meet the Team
Project Coordinator
Fernanda Rengel
(She/Her)
Fernanda completed her BA at McGill University with a double major in Philosophy and English Literature. As a dual-citizen of Venezuelan origins—and a lover of the spoken and written word—she is passionate about Québec's rich cultural and linguistic diversity. She has a keen interest in community work and local politics, and is eager to advocate for the linguistic vitality of her English-speaking peers.
Youth Advisory Committee
Lexia Piccolo
(She/Her)
Montréal
Passionate about understanding and helping others, Lexia received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Concordia University and continues to volunteer at organizations that enhance her passion. Born in Montréal and growing up with parents from different countries, she was exposed to multiple languages from a young age and adopted English as a primary language to communicate with others. Recognizing the challenges that the English-speaking community in Québec faces, she is interested in helping provide support and a platform for English-speaking youth in vulnerable situations and sharing resources for mental health services during her time at Y4Y and beyond.
Alan Sibbald
(He/Him)
Gatineau
Originally from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. I first came to Québec in December 2019 to study Media Management at Algonquin College. Since then I’ve spent my time in the Outaouais region exploring the region and getting to know the community. I find bringing awareness and addressing current day issues affecting the English youth of Quebec is incredibly important and the With You in Mind initiative a great opportunity to tackle it.
Keisha Ferdinand
(She/Her)
Montréal
Keisha just graduated from Honours Social Science with Psychology profile at John Abbott College, and will begin studying to receive her BA in Honours Psychology at Carleton University in the fall of 2022. Keisha regularly volunteers with the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and, more recently, provided tutoring to high school students through the West Island Black Community Association. Additionally, through the study of psychology, the use of social media and her voice in issues of social justice and mental health, Keisha makes it her goal to create a positive impact in her community. She is eager to continue to support the growth of her community with the help of the team at Y4Y. Keisha enjoys going on runs and reading books.
Louis Poulin-Markle
(He/Him)
Magdalen Islands
Having previously worked in the cultural sector, Louis Poulin-Markle developed a passion for outreach and community development while working in Northern Alberta. As part of his work there, he consulted with indigenous communities and advocated for the recognition of linguistic minority groups. This led him to take on a position in the Magdalen Islands, where he has been learning about the challenges faced by the English-speaking community - in particular youth. Louis is looking forward to working with Y4Y to try and start a dialogue within his new community.