"Don't speak about us without us" African Proverb

The New Mentality is a joint program of Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO. It was first lauched in February 2007 as a 2-year youth engagement pilot project.

For the past three years, TNM has been working hard at establishing a network of Youth Leaders who are now playing a meaningful, ongoing, and sustainable role in promoting mental health, reducing stigma, and advocating for a system that best meets their mental health needs. Here's a sampling of the network's achievements during the last few years:

• Created and hosted a variety show, Painting the Roses Red. The audience was invited to follow youth performers to the other side of the looking glass, where things aren't quite what they seem: Where cats can talk, flowers can sing, and mental health isn't a scary thing. Performers sang, danced, and painted their stories and experiences of mental health, mental illness and everything in between. The variety show was followd by a "Mad Tea Party".

• Created and launched a for-youth-by-youth magazine about mental health. This magazine was promoted at three different events during Children’s Mental Health Week - two at a library, and one at a shopping mall. Hundreds of magazines were given to youth during these events.

• Organized a coffee night for young people in the community to talk about teen depression. Organizers were supported by staff from the Good Shepherd Centre, and youth living in group homes associated with the Centre attended the event. A speaker shared her story of depression and attendees were invited to ask questions and talk to each other about how they can make a difference in their community.

• Organized and hosted an under-19 dance at the Roxx club. This event was designed to raise awareness about suicide prevention and youth with mental health issues. A young woman shared her story about living with a mental illness

Do you want to help make a difference in your community by helping to "disable the label" of mental illness, and by making mental health services more youth-friendly?

Then consider becoming a New Mentality Youth Leader. Youth Leaders can volunteer as:

• a New Mentality Speaker,
• a New Mentality Group Facilitator; or
• a New Mentality Group Member.

Please visit The New Mentality's website (www.thenewmentality.ca) for more information about how you can get involved.