Unique resources-focused project recognizes the appeal of visual content—as well as formal and informal sources of information sought by youth who need help
The province of Ontario is supporting an innovative program that helps youth with mental illness access the information and resources they need to manage their condition.
The province is providing ongoing funding to mindyourmind, a province-wide mental health program of the Family Service Thames Valley. The program works with youth to develop resources and coping tools that help manage stress, crisis situations and mental health-related problems. The resources are designed to reduce the stigma of mental illness, and increase access and use of both professional and peer-based community support.
The online community provides youth the opportunity to find everyday heroes and celebrities sharing their stories, as well as coping tools to help handle stress and resources when nothing else seems to work. mindyourmind is dedicated to providing the necessary info, resources and skills to inspire youth to reach out, to get help for themselves or to give help to their friends who may be experiencing tough times. mindyourmind is committed to reducing the stigma often associated with reaching out for help.
Online leadership in anti-stigma work
In 2004 a group of youth working with mindyourmind produced a video based on the personal experiences of one young woman named Clea. Clea had struggled with schizophrenia for much of her life. The ‘youth ambassadors’ brought her story to YouTube and eventually it became the most-watched video at the site related to schizophrenia. That video has been viewed nearly 700,000 times and has received nearly two thousand favourable comments. mindyourmind continues to provide a range of youth-focused videos at the group’s YouTube channel.
“mindyourmind has had tremendous success in establishing itself as a go-to program and website for youth wanting more information and assistance with mental health issues”
—Ontario Minister of Health Deb Matthews (June 21, 2013)
Research led by Dr. Gunter Eysenbach, primarily focused on health and the Internet (“the web”), has found that there are health benefits from social networks. His research has found that personal stories enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of digital information, according to mindyourmind educator Eugenia Canas.
We speak with Eugenia Canas of mindyourmind.
