Boost Wellness of Transitional Aged Youth
Better understanding and addressing the specific mental and emotional needs facing newcomer youth and international students, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic
WHO
Newcomer, refugee youth and international students in Peel Region’s South Asian communities.
WHAT
Objectives
To equip families to better support their youth dealing with mental and emotional health challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic
HOW
- Culturally responsive mental health promotion curriculum for youth delivered through psychoeducational-social groups
- Wrap-around support model
WHERE
Settings
- Community
- Online
- Clinical
Implementation sites
- Peel Region
- Virtual
WHY
- COVID-19 amplified health inequities among marginalized populations
- Racialized and newcomer youth were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
- Youth were being left behind in education, economic opportunity, health and wellbeing
In the words of the project team members
“This pandemic not only magnified the health inequities, it also highlighted a silent mental health crisis that was going on in our community. We felt that it was time to break the silence by starting a conversation about mental health, mental health struggles and learn ways to improve them. My biggest hope is to break the silence.”
Key protective factors
- Social and emotional skills
- Cultural connectedness and belonging
- Positive family relationships
- Supportive relationships in the community
- Social networks
Key approaches
- Culturally safe/informed
- Trauma-informed
Website
YouTube
