What would it take to create communities where every child and young person has the opportunity to thrive?
Over the past few decades, Western perspectives on child and youth mental health have evolved significantly. One important shift has been the recognition that mental health is shaped not only by individual factors or access to services, but by the conditions that young people grow up in – family dynamics, relationships with peers, school climate, neighbourhood, community connections, employment, and digital environments. This shift has contributed to greater support for upstream approaches that move beyond crisis response to prevent issues and harms before they arise.
At the KDE Hub, we see the momentum of growing recognition and implementation of upstream approaches. Across the country, communities within our networks are asking important questions to inform their upstream initiatives: How can we build environments that support positive mental health and prevent substance use? What do we need to know about the challenges that our young people are experiencing? How do we mobilize partners across sectors? How do we sustain this work over time and at scale?
These are not questions with simple answers, but they are inspiring communities across Canada to learn, collaborate, and lead meaningful change.
That is why we’re convening Changing Landscapes 2026 around a question that is both simple and challenging: What does it take to do upstream well?
Whether you are new to upstream approaches or already engaged in this work, this event offers an opportunity to join a growing national movement advancing child and youth mental wellbeing and substance use prevention. Together, we’ll explore priority areas for action, learn about effective strategies for organizing collective action, and hear about promising approaches from those working to create healthier environments where young people can thrive.
Join us on November 17–18, 2026 for this free virtual event.