A Vancouver-based Inner City Youth program, along with its Youth Advisory Committee, provides ways for young people to inform their own mental health care, in a “not about us, without us” approach
The Inner City Youth (ICY) program is an interdisciplinary mental health and addictions program for young people living in Vancouver. ICY’s focus is to meet youth where they are at, on the streets and in the community.
During the early development of the program it became evident that there was a need for opportunities for young people to provide program input and leadership. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) was formed, and it provides a forum for youth to inform their own mental health care, develop youth-focused engagement opportunities, and participate in existing community activities. The YAC helps inner city youth to realize a “not about us, without us” approach to mental health care.
Poster display at the Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference
The ICY program and its YAC presented a poster at the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference.
(Click the image to see a larger size)
The Inner City Youth program (along with the Youth Advisory Committee) created and displayed a poster at the 17th Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference, held in Kelowna, BC, June 17-18, 2016. Click on the image above to see a larger version of the poster.
Case manager Amy Schactman attended the conference, along with peer support workers Charity Jandrew and Sarah Irving, and represented the Inner City Youth program (and its companion Youth Advisory Committee).
People First Radio’s Kevin Midbo was at the conference and spoke with Amy Schactman, Charity Jandrew, and Sarah Irving.
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audio | #youth #innercity #mentalhealth #inclusion #CCMHCCmed #yvr @Providence_Hlth | https://t.co/2NNB8Lrj0G pic.twitter.com/sh3MmNhDjr
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) June 27, 2016
About Providence Health and the Inner City Youth program
Providence Health Care is the largest Catholic health care organization in Canada, delivering tertiary/quaternary care, teaching and research on eight area in Vancouver.
Providence Health Care’s Inner City Youth Mental Health Program (ICYMHP) is a team of seven psychiatrists, two social workers, one occupational therapist and psychiatric nurse providing assertive outreach based treatment to transition aged youth (age 16-24) with mental illness.
