Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has released The Mental Health Strategy for Canada: A Youth Perspective. This document, which was written by the MHCC’s Youth Council, is an adaptation of Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada. Drawing on personal experiences to lend context to the larger policy, the Youth Council created an original document that is more accessible to a broader audience, especially youth.
“It is important to translate the Mental Health Strategy into a youth-friendly format so as to highlight the youth voice,” Chair of the Youth Council Kristen Zaun says. “The intent is to change the lingo, to speak more directly to young people, while still keeping the spirit and intent of the original document.”
Never before has a group of Canadian young people designed a project of this scope or contributed to the field of knowledge exchange by translating a mental health policy document written largely for, and by, adults.
The Mental Health Strategy for Canada: A Youth Perspective includes examples of best practices that help bring to life many of the recommendations in the Strategy. The Youth Council consulted with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) youth groups who offered culturally relevant insights, taking into account FNIM histories.
The Mental Health Strategy for Canada: A Youth Perspective can be accessed here
