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December 2025 Update
Youth are more likely to connect with and confide in other youth when talking about mental health and suicide. Peers with similar mental health experiences have a shared understanding from an adolescent perspective and are seen as a trusted source of support.
“It would be nice to be able to help my friends feel better.” (Youth at April 2024 Focus Group)
In April 2024, over thirty youth attended a focus group at Clareview Recreation Centre to voice their experiences with and understanding of mental health. They shared that some of their current coping strategies included social interactions such as sports, talking with friends, or playing video games. When asked why their friends played such an important role in their mental health, they responded that their friends were aware of what they were going through and had similar experiences. Youth then identified what they felt would be helpful in promoting youth mental health in their own lives and communities, with responses such as:
Young people may be reluctant to ask for mental health support due to social stigma or perceived judgment from adults or professionals. Peers offer understanding in ways that adults are not able to. By offering care and compassion, Wellness Ambassadors can create a safer space for conversations about mental health and suicide and help young people build supportive relationships with peers. These relationships promote mental well-being over time by increasing youth’s natural supports.
What Makes This Project Unique Youth are the authorities on their own experiences. Their voice and guidance are the driving force behind how Youth Connect is created and executed. The project will be leaning on the strengths and talents of its participants, while constantly adapting to their self-identified needs. Respect for youth knowledge and experiences and flexibility in the process and content are core tenets of our approach. By project wrap-up in Summer 2026, Youth Connect could look very different than it does now – it entirely depends on the youth!
What Makes This Project Unique
Youth are the authorities on their own experiences. Their voice and guidance are the driving force behind how Youth Connect is created and executed. The project will be leaning on the strengths and talents of its participants, while constantly adapting to their self-identified needs. Respect for youth knowledge and experiences and flexibility in the process and content are core tenets of our approach. By project wrap-up in Summer 2026, Youth Connect could look very different than it does now – it entirely depends on the youth!
Project Description
The C5 Youth Connect Project is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower youth and agency staff to take an active role in promoting mental health and well-being within their communities, with the long-term goal of reducing youth suicide. The project is aimed at the “Prevention” stage of the Suicide Prevention Continuum and aims to “increase protective factors and instill hope by promoting mental wellness, building resiliency, reducing stigma, and building supportive environments” (Building Strength, Inspiring Hope: A Provincial Action Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2019 to 2024, page 16).
The project is led by Cheyanne Welch (Project Coordinator) in collaboration with the C5 agencies. Design and implementation will be strengths-based and draw on the Search Institute’s research-based 40 Developmental Assets Framework. There are three main components to the project, working together to create a network of support for youth mental health within north Edmonton.
Wellness Ambassador – Recruitment and Training
Approximately thirty youth from diverse backgrounds are being recruited from the C5 agencies to become mental health Wellness Ambassadors within their own communities. The Project Coordinator works with the Wellness Ambassadors to identify strengths and gaps in their knowledge and skills surrounding mental health and suicide and coordinates relevant training opportunities for them. Examples of training topics may include how to talk to peers about mental health, recognizing warning signs for mental health and suicide, and available community resources for mental health. Wellness Ambassadors will be accessible to their peers through places youth already gather and spend time, such as schools, community centers, and online.
Agency Staff Training
To increase the C5 agencies’ capacity to support youth mental health, approximately twenty staff from each C5 agency who do not have previous or formal mental health training but who may interact with youth as part of their work receive training to identify early warning signs of suicide, provide empathetic support to youth, and effectively intervene in crisis situations. The Project Coordinator conducts needs assessments with the agencies to identify and coordinate the types of training appropriate for each agency based on their work, target population, and current gaps in skills or training.
Youth Connect Network
A Youth Connect meeting is held about once a month for the Wellness Ambassadors and youth interested in becoming Wellness Ambassadors. These meetings, facilitated by Cheyanne (Project Coordinator) and Daniel Loki (C5 Clareview Hub), are guided by the interests and self-identified needs of the participants, but generally consist of fun activities, continued training, and opportunities to discuss mental health together in a safe, inclusive space. Meetings are held at varying locations around Edmonton, and on varying days/times, to be accessible for the most Wellness Ambassadors possible.
The Project Coordinator also works with the Youth Connect Network to identify gaps in mental health awareness, knowledge or support in the participants’ communities. With guidance and mentorship from the Project Coordinator, Wellness Ambassadors work to address these gaps through youth-led events, projects, or campaigns.
Logistics
This project is funded by the Government of Alberta through the Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program. It supports implementation of Building Strength, Inspiring Hope: A Provincial Action Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2019 to 2024. The grant period is from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026.
This project is conducted in collaboration with the C5 agencies.
Project planning and participant recruitment will be conducted between October and December 2024. Training and Youth Connect meetings are expected to commence January 2025.
Evaluation of this project is supported by Deanna Marler, Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services, and Dianna Fondo, Research and Planning Officer with Alberta Health Services. Continuous evaluation will be conducted on a monthly basis to determine program accessibility and equity. A summative evaluation to determine project effectiveness will be conducted in Summer 2026.
The Project Coordinator is Cheyanne Welch, MPH. She can be reached at cwelch@terracentre.ca or via text or call at 368-882-1256.
After months of exploring options for bringing Youth Connect to young parents who need childminding, we are thrilled to announce a partnership between Youth Connect and the Pathways Club of Terra Centre for Teen Parents! With facilitation by Christine Unrau (Pathways Facilitator) and Caitlin Parker (mental health practicum student), Youth Connect content and activities will be incorporated into the regular Pathways Club programming on a monthly basis between January 2026 and June 2026.
We are sadly saying goodbye to Chelsey Ternes, who has completed her practicum at Terra Centre. Her calming and gentle energy brought warmth and safety to each meeting she co-facilitated and we cannot thank her enough for all her help and hard work.
The older group met on December 2 to complete the third module of the Be There Certificate, focusing on active listening skills. We shared a meal of coconut chickpea curry while learning how to listen with focus, prompt when needed, and respond with compassion. An educational game that combined musical chairs with identifying facts vs opinions and open vs closed questions revealed the secret competitiveness of the Wellness Ambassadors and produced gales of laughter.
Unfortunately, due to staff illness, we were unable to provide Youth Connect programming to the younger age group at the Clareview Recreation Centre in December. We look forward to implementing our program plans in January 2026.
The holidays can be a wonderful time of warmth, joy, and quality time spent with family and friends. They can also be the time when we are “forced” to see that one creepy family member who always comments on our weight or we have to smile and nod while someone talks about politics or religion just to “keep the peace”. Sometimes, we can come out of the holiday season wishing we’d never gone in. Boundaries are essential to having an enjoyable holiday. Below are four types of boundaries that Cheyanne has used during her own holidays to keep the season “merry and bright”.
Time Boundaries
Hot tip – you actually don’t have to attend every gathering you’re invited to. Hotter tip – you don’t have to stay the whole time if you do go! You can graciously decline invitations that push your capacity or accept for part of the event and communicate that to the host.
“Thank you so much for the invitation. I won’t be able to make it, but let’s set some time aside in the new year to connect.”
“Thank you for inviting me! I’ll definitely be there, but I can only stay for about three hours. Looking forward to it!”
Financial Boundaries
A “dark side” of the holidays can be the cost. Between the gifts, the food, the special events, and the travel, the dollars can add up quickly. You can set a financial boundary by deciding on a budget for yourself and holding yourself to that budget.
“That sounds like a fun activity! Unfortunately, it’s a bit outside my holiday budget this year. Would you like to go do [low cost activity] with me instead?”
Travel Boundaries
Alberta’s December roads always produce some of the most “creative” driving ever seen and yet we consistently brave the danger to meet our social obligations. If you do not feel confident or safe traveling during the holiday season, you can set that boundary with yourself and stay home to drive another day.
“While we would love to see you, we also want to stay safe and not ruin anyone’s holidays with an accident. Let’s reschedule and just enjoy a night in tonight.”
Conversational Boundaries
It can be very difficult to gather as a family and have the conversation become triggering, or to have comments made about you or to you that make you feel uncomfortable or judged. When this happens, it’s important to politely stop the conversation, communicate your boundary, and then redirect the conversation to something you are comfortable talking about or ask them about their own life – their job, schooling, hobbies, children, travels, etc.
“Actually, I want to hear about you and your life! How is it going with school?”
“[Name], I’m happy to see you and I’m glad that we’re spending time together, but that topic is not something I’m comfortable talking about. How was your trip?”
Further Reading: Healthy Holiday Boundaries | Psychology Today Canada
Youth Connect would like to welcome a new Terra Centre Mental Health and Wellness practicum student, Caitlin Parker, who will be supporting the monthly meeting for both age groups! Caitlin is thrilled to be involved with this project as she is passionate about working with children and youth. Her interests include disaster mental health and play-based healing. She is looking forward to learning from all the youth!
The older group met on November 4. A smaller group this month, we learned how actions and practical help, such as getting someone a snack, reminding them of their appointments, and taking them outside to spend time in nature, is essential to supporting mental health in a holistic way. Throughout the meeting, we worked collaboratively to compile a list of caring actions that they’ve done for others, that others have done for them, or that they would like to try in the future. Using a clip from Mean Girls, we also talked about how our everyday actions give clues to other people about how safe and supportive we will be if they share with us about their mental health.
The younger had a unique meeting in November; a required Terra Centre event prevented the Project Coordinator from facilitating the meeting, so Daniel co-facilitated with the therapist from The Family Centre who works from the C5 Hubs, Nigel Bucknor. Our profound thanks to Nigel for helping make the meeting a success! The youth and staff played a variety of games that led to general discussions on mental health and then gathered for a Q&A session with Nigel, focusing on what therapy is, what to expect, and how to engage in therapy as a minor.
Due to the high demand the youth portion of Youth Connect places on the Project Coordinator’s time, the staff training portion of the project has been significantly delayed; however, efforts are still being made to implement this portion of the project and individual updates will be sent to agencies as they become available.
It may seem simple, but checking in about someone’s basic physical needs can be vital (pun intended) to the success of your support efforts. Research shows that basic physical health concerns such as dehydration, low blood sugar, and sleep deprivation can negatively impact mood, emotional regulation, and even long-term mental health.
“…people who drink less water are more likely to say that they feel anxious, depressed or suicidal” (Cleveland Clinic). Dehydration increases cortisol levels in the body, causing stress, anxiety, irritability, sadness and depression, fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating, remembering, learning, using language, and making decisions.
“A blood-sugar drop can trigger a cascade of hormones, including cortisol, the stress hormone, and adrenaline, the fight-or-flight hormone” (Psychology Today Canada). Other effects of low-blood sugar include lack of coordination, issues concentrating, and lethargy.
“Poor or insufficient sleep has been found to increase negative emotional responses to stressors and to decrease positive emotions” (Columbia University). Sleep deprivation can cause anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and issues with attention, memory, learning, and stress management.
Tip: When you want to support someone, include a check-in about their basic physical needs like hydration, food, and sleep. See if what they need in that moment is just a drink of water, a snack, or a safe and comfy place to nap, rather than a psychological “intervention”.
Note: It’s important to remember that even if you believe someone’s current mood or emotions are related to physical health, mental health is complex and you cannot assume what someone needs. It is best to ask them what they need. You can be broad (“How can I help?”) or specific (“Can I get you snack?”).
Sources:
On October 7, the older group gathered for a youth-led meeting focusing on the impacts of art and creativity on mental health. Two Wellness Ambassadors planned the meeting, with support from Chelsey. This meeting saw the most attendees so far – fourteen Wellness Ambassadors came to make mandalas, paint affirmation tote bags, and learn how to use creative activities to support their friends’ and their own mental health. They learned about Creatives Collective and iHuman Youth Society, two arts-based organizations that provide artistic and creative opportunities for young people.
Programming for the younger group was held on October 9, and staff piloted a split-time model, offering the same programming twice in the afternoon to reflect the different school dismissal times and subsequent arrival times of youth at Clareview Recreation Centre. Unfortunately, due to the teacher strike resulting in no classes, only two youth attended each session, for a total of four participants. Despite this, all attendees indicated that they enjoyed the programming, which focused on identifying signs of poor mental health and knowing how to begin a conversation with a friend about their mental health.
Due to the Alberta Teachers Association strike, the training scheduled for Braemar School staff has been postponed.
Humans don’t like to be bored. “Boredom is a tendency for us to not be occupied otherwise cognitively, which switches over our thinking system to use a part of our brain that’s called the default mode network. … The default mode network is a bunch of structures in your brain that switch on when you don’t have anything else to think about. … the default mode network makes us think about things that might be kind of uncomfortable.” Those “uncomfortable” things, like the meaning of life and our purpose, are actually incredibly important for feeling fulfilled and happy.
Society has almost eliminated boredom because our phones are always available to occupy us. “If every time you’re slightly bored you pull out your phone, it’s going to get harder and harder for you to find meaning, and that’s the recipe for depression and anxiety and a sense of hollowness…”
If you allow yourself to be bored more often, you will likely feel more satisfied with your life and a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
Tip: Practice being bored for at least 15-minute periods or longer and train yourself to become comfortable with the default mode network. Promote this practice with the youth you support.
Source: “You Need to Be Bored. Here’s Why.” by Dr. Arthur Brooks at the Harvard Business Review (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orQKfIXMiA8 )
We are thrilled to announce that Youth Connect was selected to be a recipient of the SOARING Grant (Strengthening Opportunities for Adolescent Resilience and Growth), which will provide funds for a youth-led initiative! We are excited to see how the youth choose to improve community health and are thankful for the added financial support provided by the SOARING grant.
We also want to give a heartfelt Thank You to Norwood Child and Family Resource Centre for welcoming the older Youth Connect group into their space for the rest of our monthly meetings! Having a consistent space to gather in has already improved attendance and engagement with the youth and we look forward to the continued benefits this partnership will bring.
The older group met on September 2 to complete the first module of the Be There Certificate from Jack.org. This module, called “Say What You See”, taught the youth to recognize when a peer may be struggling with their mental health and how to start the conversation in a compassionate and honest way. The module was supplemented by discussion questions from the facilitators, including questions like: “Have you ever talked to a friend about their mental health before or had a friend talk to you? How does your culture impact how you view mental health? How can we use these skills to talk about mental health in online spaces or over text?” We also learned about Kickstand Edmonton, which offers mental health supports for youth in a safe, low/no-barrier environment.
The younger age group met at Clareview Recreation Centre on September 11 and learned grounding techniques to help themselves and their friends when faced with anxiety or panic. Through a balloon blowing game and box breathing exercise, we learned about breathing techniques for emotional regulation. A freeze dance game illustrated the benefits of movement and shaking for stress reduction and grounding. Finally, we wrapped up the group by working on mental health themed coloring pages while listening to soft music.
When you’ve noticed someone has been acting “strange” or unlike themselves, you might start to wonder how to ask about their mental health. Simple questions like “How are you doing?” or “Are you ok?” might prompt them to share honestly, but they could also brush off the question and answer with “I’m fine!”. If you feel like there’s more to it, and want to dig deeper while still being gentle, stick to the facts.
“To start a conversation with someone you’re concerned about, it’s essential that you distinguish facts from opinions. Facts are objective truths you can prove. Opinions are subjective and specific to you or a group’s perspective” (Be There Certificate).
Has your friend been skipping class or calling out sick from work much more frequently? Say that. Have they stopped sleeping at night or brushing their hair? Say that. Have they been making comments that sound hopeless or expressing thoughts that they are worthless? Say that. Facts are hard to deny and can gently challenge someone to be honest about their mental health. You may also find that these behavior changes are related to something else and may provide you another opportunity to support your friend.
Tip: Gently point out objective facts about changes in your friend’s behavior and use that as the launch point for a conversation about their mental health.
Source: Be There Certificate Module 1: “Say What You See” (www.betherecertificate.org)
After looking at many options, we have found a training curriculum for mental health support and suicide prevention that fits the needs of our older age group. Over the next year, we will be working our way through the Be There Certificate offered by Jack.org. Each module will be supplemented by discussion questions and more information provided by the meeting facilitators. In addition to teaching skills in supporting others, this training will produce a certificate that can be listed on the youth’s school applications and resumes.
The first Annual Report was submitted to the Government of Alberta at the end of August, meaning Youth Connect is ½ way through our time. Included in that report was feedback from the Wellness Ambassadors and Point Persons at each agency.
The older youth group gathered on August 5 for a discussion about community as a start to identifying youth-led projects to improve mental health awareness and support in their communities. We explored questions such as: What is community? Who is part of our community? How does community influence us and vice versa? We ended the meeting with a brainstorm of possible community issues for the youth-led initiatives.
For the drop-in group at Clareview Rec on August 14, Cheyanne set up a maze that youth had to navigate blindfolded with the help of a partner who called out verbal directions. Multiple youth went through the maze at the same time, creating chaos and noise. This activity was meant to mimic the confusion and stress that can be experienced due to anxiety and how simple, clear directions are often the best way to communicate and help someone who is experiencing an anxiety attack. The discussion after the game explored the emotions that youth felt while in the maze or helping their partner, the difference between worry and anxiety, signs and symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack, our own experiences with anxiety or helping a friend with anxiety, and who to reach out to for more help (a trusted adult or Kid’s Help Phone).
Have you ever been going about your day, feeling stressed or irritable without a recognizable cause, until suddenly you feel so anxious or angry that you want to run away or scream at everyone? That’s what it can feel like when you are experiencing sensory overload. “Sensory overload happens when one or more of the body’s five senses become overwhelmed” (Medical News Today, 2024). It can (and does!) happen to anyone but is a more common experience among people who have autism, ADHD, PTSD, and sensory processing disorder. Your response to sensory overload is unique to you and the situation, but reactions can include discomfort, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, loss of focus, and even insomnia. When children experience sensory overload, they sometimes run away, cry, disconnect from social interactions, or cover their face or ears. Sensory overload can be especially frustrating if you don’t recognize what you’re experiencing or if you can’t identify the external stimuli that are overwhelming you.
Tip: Pause and conduct a full body scan to ground yourself in the moment and identify possible sensory overload triggers. If supporting someone else with this technique, guide them through the full body scan and ask them to describe what they are feeling to you. The scan can be done seated or standing. Start at the feet and focus on what you physically feel in that part of the body – the sensation of your feet in your shoes and the ground pressing up to hold you. Move upwards, staying focused on small, specific areas, until you reach the top of the head. When you reach the face, check the other four senses, too – what can you see, hear, taste and smell? While scanning, watch for uncomfortable sensations that may be contributing to sensory overload. You can even ask yourself questions like: “Are my shoes laced too tight? Is there a clothing tag that is scratching me? Are my hands cold? Are the lights too bright?” Once you have identified what may be causing sensory overload, take steps to address it like adjusting the music volume or cutting out that horrible tag!
Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sensory-overload
Youth Connect is one year old! Keep an eye out at the beginning of August for a fun Year-in-Review summary of all that we’ve accomplished since receiving the Youth Suicide Prevention Grant. Currently, the Project Coordinator is gathering reflections from the Wellness Ambassadors and Point People on the creation and implementation of Youth Connect so far and will be using those reflections to inform future planning and enrich the Annual Report to the Government of Alberta.
Youth Connect is welcoming a Terra Centre Mental Health and Wellness Team practicum student as another co-facilitator for the older age group until mid-December. Chelsey Ternes is very excited to be involved with this project and has past experience working with children and youth in a variety of contexts, including currently with CASA Mental Health and Recovery Alberta.
Due to summer vacation and the youth’s changing schedules, only one youth attended the drop-in Youth Connect programming at Clareview Recreation Centre in July. This meant that we were unable to run the programming we had planned. To remind the youth of the monthly meeting and create excitement for the program material, we will be putting up posters communicating that month’s date, time and topic at the Clareview Rec Hub, as well as sharing information and funny Youth Connect memes on social media.
Older Wellness Ambassadors who registered after March 2025 gathered on July 14 at Terra Centre for a Photovoice training to ensure they were using ethical photography to capture their experiences and opinions on mental health.
“Wow, this weather is so bipolar! It’s driving me crazy!” How many times have we accidentally said something in a casual conversation that contributes to mental health stigma or minimizes disabilities, even if that wasn’t what we intended? The language we use is a powerful tool for shaping the reality we live in. If we use language that minimizes or trivializes mental health conditions, we are communicating to those around us that we are not a safe person to support their mental health. While we may know we should use “safe language”, it can sometimes be difficult to express what we are actually trying to say unless we have an alternative word to use. So, here are two specific ways our language can support and destigmatize mental health in our everyday conversations.
We now have 19 Wellness Ambassadors registered in Youth Connect. Registration for ages 18-25 will close on July 31 so that the youth can build trusting relationships that foster safe conversations about mental health and suicide.
On June 12, younger youth at the Clareview Recreation Centre drop-in program painted a Youth Connect banner while we talked about checking-in on ourselves, naming emotions and validating emotions. The older Wellness Ambassadors attended Bent Arrow’s Culture Camp on June 20. We attended the opening Pipe Ceremony, shared breakfast and lunch together, listened to a flute performance, watched Powwow dancing, and made Medicine Wheel bracelets. As part of their exit survey, Wellness Ambassadors were asked to reflect on how they could use what they learned at Culture Camp to support their friends’ mental health.
Reports of the needs assessment results and recommendations for training opportunities are being written and sent out to the agencies as they are completed. Cheyanne also occasionally sends out training opportunities that she learns about from other staff or agencies.
You might have heard the old saying: “A pain shared is a pain halved”. As professionals working in the social services sector, we often encounter pain in our clients, which strains our mental health. While ‘self-care’ (last month’s tip) is essential to maintaining our health and wellbeing, it can also be isolating to feel like your wellbeing is your responsibility alone. We need to remember that “human well-being is not achieved alone” (HBR). We need to also be practicing ‘community care’ or ‘collective care’, where we put effort into taking care of each other – even in the workplace. This can help us be more emotionally intelligent, be aware of our behaviors, understand team dynamics, and decrease our stress, all leading to a safer and more supportive work environment.
Tip: Take time to pause in your workday and connect to coworkers with authenticity. Reflect on the question: “How is our work affecting us as human beings?” (HBR) Acknowledge the impacts of your work and create opportunities to understand and support each other.
Source and How to Use Community Care in the Workplace: https://hbr.org/2022/04/stop-framing-wellness-programs-around-self-care
We currently have 18 Wellness Ambassadors registered (60% of our goal)! Registration will remain open for youth to join the project until July.
Monthly meetings for the younger age group of 14-17 began on May 8 at the Clareview Recreation Centre C5 Hub. Youth and staff played Mental Health Jenga and the Human Knot Game together and used these games as an opportunity to talk about mental health together. They also had a period of quiet, personal reflection using the “Hold On, Let Go” exercise mentioned in the April update.
Our third monthly meeting for ages 18-25 was held on May 6 at Norwood Child and Family Resource Centre. We discussed self-care: what it is, what it is not, and why it is so important, especially when we are supporting other people’s mental health in addition to our own. We shared a meal of dal with rice and painted using cut fruit and vegetables as stamps, along with patterned stencils and free-hand brushes and sponges. The painting pictured here was made by one of the Wellness Ambassadors with celery stalks!
In-person needs assessment sessions have been held with all C5 agencies. At these sessions, staff were invited to answer a series of questions by writing their answers on sticky notes and placing them on posters around the room. The questions asked about the populations they serve, mental health topics they are and are not confident supporting, what their goals are for this training, the best training formats, barriers to participating in the training, agency strengths and weaknesses around youth mental health, and agency feedback processes for future training needs. Staff and facilitators then reviewed the sticky note answers and used them to guide a deeper group discussion about youth mental health, and the strengths and needs of the individual staff and agency as a whole.
For staff who were not able to attend their agency’s session, a survey has been sent to ask for their input. Staff are also welcome to reach out and share with Cheyanne directly.
Results from these sessions and the surveys are currently being analyzed and reports will be issued in the coming months. The results will then guide decision-making around the most applicable training topics and appropriate training formats for each agency.
Life is full of competing demands for our time, energy, and resources. This is especially true when you play a supporting role in someone else’s life, whether professionally like a youth worker or personally like a parent. With all these demands, it can be hard to make time to take care of ourselves. It can be even harder when our expectations for self-care are time-consuming, expensive, or elaborate. One of the easiest mistakes to make when creating a self-care routine is expecting too much of ourselves and we end up increasing our stress.
“Self-care” can actually be quite simple. Pedicures and weekly golf times could be self-care for some people, but so is brushing your teeth, cleaning your living space, talking with friends, smudging, or saying no to things that you don’t have capacity for. Anything you do to take care of your physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual health is self-care. What you do is going to be different for everyone – the important thing is making sure it works for you and your life.
Tip: When making a self-care plan, don’t overwhelm yourself with a list of things you “should” do. Keep it simple and feasible for your life.
More great self-care tips: https://mywellbeing.com/therapy-101/why-isnt-my-self-care-working
June 12: Age 14-17 Monthly Meeting
June 20: Ages 18-25 Monthly Meeting (Bent Arrow Culture Camp)
First, with childminding presenting a larger barrier than previously expected, recruitment of young parents (who require childminding) has been paused. We hope to begin a group in the fall specific to young parents where their childminding needs are met, and the meetings are more accessible by being incorporated into current Terra Centre programming.
Second, having varying dates, times, and locations for the younger age group was presenting a challenge for both logistics and obtaining guardian consent for participation. To overcome these barriers, and to provide more inclusive participation options for youth accessing North Edmonton programming in C5, Youth Connect for Ages 14-17 will be embedded in the youth programming offered by the C5 Hub at Clareview Recreation Centre. Meetings will be held at the Rec Centre on the second Thursday of each month from 1 pm to 3:30 pm and youth can drop-in to participate. Due to changing to a drop-in program, gift cards will not be offered to these youth. If youth in this age range are already registered as Wellness Ambassadors and attend for at least two hours, they will get a gift card. The first meeting for this age group is May 8, 2025. They do not need to register for Youth Connect but will need to be registered with C5 to use the drop-in programming. To register with C5, youth can get a registration form from the Clareview Rec C5 front desk.
Our second monthly meeting for Wellness Ambassadors aged 18-25 was held on April 7, 2025 at Terra Centre for Teen Parents. We played Uno, ate pizza, and learned about ways to become more aware of our own mental health (self check-in’s) and to calm ourselves when we are feeling overwhelmed or upset (grounding). Youth feedback showed that they specifically enjoyed learning about how walking and mindful breathing can reduce stress and anxiety.
To promote youth recruitment from Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, an engagement event was held on April 16. The group played mental health Jenga and then used handprints to show what needs to be “held onto” and what needs to be “let go of” to have good mental health. Two youth found the event enjoyable and want to become Wellness Ambassadors!
Our first needs assessment was held on March 31 with the teaching staff at Braemar School, all of whom work with Terra Centre participants in tangent with Terra Centre staff. Their feedback was invaluable to adapting the needs assessment process for future sessions.
Registrations for the staff needs assessments have officially closed. We successfully registered 90 staff, which was 75% of our target for participation. After needs assessments are completed in May, qualitative data analysis will help us arrange appropriate training opportunities.
The act of breathing impacts our autonomic nervous system: inhaling activates our sympathetic system (energizing), and exhaling activates our parasympathetic system (relaxing). You can use simple breathing to balance your nervous system. If you are feeling detached or apathetic, you can activate the energizing sympathetic system by breathing in deeply and letting it out quickly (like a sigh). If you are feeling anxious or angry, you can activate the relaxing parasympathetic system by breathing in quickly and letting it out slowly (like blowing up a balloon or blowing out birthday candles).
Tip: Use focused breathing on your own, with a youth, or with a co-worker to balance the nervous system and either energize or relax the body to meet the situation appropriately.Source: https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/PRN-balancing-the-nervous-system.pdf
Because the project entered the implementation phase, Cheyanne joined the Mental Health Team at Terra Centre for Teen Parents to better support her in the subject material of mental health and suicide prevention. This means her supervisor has shifted from Karen Mottershead (Executive Director) to Dr. Chandra Ashton (Clinical Manager, Mental Health and Wellness).
The role of youth Point Person at Norwood Centre has shifted to Devon Bond-Nippard (Intake Facilitator) who will be connecting with youth participants. Jessy Gray will still be assisting with coordinating the staff training portion and supporting Devon. Welcome to Youth Connect, Devon!
Our first monthly meeting for ages 18-25 was held on March 12! Eight Wellness Ambassadors gathered at the C5 NE Hub to learn about using Photovoice for sharing their thoughts and experiences with mental health. We used art supplies and collaging to make “alien” versions of ourselves as an introduction to each other. Wellness Ambassadors took home snack bags rather than sharing a meal, in respect for those observing Ramadan.
To support recruitment in the age 14-17 group, Norwood CFRC is hosting a Parent Coffee Hour and Info Session on April 3 so parents/guardians can learn more about the project and register their youth.
This is a picture of a bouquet of flowers. There were other purple flowers, but these ones stood out the most to me because they are not perfectly uniform. This photo shows how the little “imperfections” can make us stand out from the crowd and intensify our beauty in the world.– Wellness Ambassador
Important Updates:
Three group needs assessments have been scheduled. Registration to participate in the needs assessment and trainings will close by the end of March.
We will begin searching for training opportunities in June. If you know of any mental health and suicide prevention trainings already offered by your agency or a partner agency, please contact Cheyanne.
Upcoming Dates
March 31, 2025: Braemar/Terra Staff Needs Assessment
April 3, 2025: Parent Coffee Hour and Info Session
April 7, 2025: 2nd Youth Connect Meeting (Age 18-25)
Cheyanne will continue to work from the different C5 locations on an approximate monthly basis, but these dates will no longer be pre-set. Please check with your agency’s point person if you’d like to know when Cheyanne will be at your agency.
Have you ever noticed that your mental health improves from something as simple as a quiet walk in nature? “Our nervous systems are wired to calm down through bilateral stimulation. Walking, tapping, eye movement – they present a stimulus to both sides of our body and both sides of our brain. And somehow, that grounds us – especially in nature.” Stress hormones are lower in people who regularly walk in natural settings and “even a 12-minute walk changes 500 of our body’s metabolites for the better”. For a quick mood boost, walk on your tip toes!
Tip: If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, go for a walk! If you have a stressful topic to discuss with a youth, take them for a walk while you talk about it together.
Source: Walking and EMDR: Grounding and empowering one step at a time | KBIA
February saw the first Wellness Ambassadors register! Four youth in the 18-25 age group joined the project and are excited to begin building skills and friendships. Many more youth have expressed interest, and the first Youth Connect meeting will be held once a few more youth officially join. A parent information page was created to help youth aged 15-17 discuss the project with their parents.
The first Interim Report was submitted to the Government of Alberta in February, meaning Youth Connect is ¼ through our time. Included in that report was feedback from the Point Person meeting held on February 11, 2025.
Registrations for the staff training portion of the project are currently open, and the deadline is approaching fast! If you would like to participate and learn more about supporting youth mental health and preventing youth suicide, reach out to Cheyanne or speak with your supervisor.
Panic attacks are sudden, unprovoked, intense feelings of fear with physical symptoms of a ‘pounding or racing heart, sweating, chills, trembling, difficulty breathing, weakness or dizziness, tingly or numb hands, chest pain, and/or stomach pain or nausea’ (National Institute of Mental Health). Anxiety attacks are similar but have a specific cause like a stressful situation. When these attacks happen, it can be difficult to calm down and ground yourself. Sour candy may help interrupt these attacks because your body suddenly focuses on the intense flavor rather than the intense feelings, allowing you to start grounding yourself through the five senses. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique linked below (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste.)
Please Note: While many people (including some doctors and psychologists) use this trick, it has not been scientifically proven, so be aware that it may not work for everyone. Additionally, overuse of this technique can lead to maladaptive coping, so be aware of how often you use this.
Tip: Keep a packet of sour candies (Sour Patch Kids, Sour Skittles, Warheads, Jolly Ranchers, etc.) in your bag, car, or office. When you or someone you’re with is hit with a panic or anxiety attack, eat one piece of candy and use it to begin grounding. *Make sure to check for allergies before giving anyone food.
Sources and To Read More:
Here’s when to expect Cheyanne at your agency. Dates may change, so check with your Point Person or reach out to Cheyanne directly if you’d like to meet her at your agency.
All Point Person orientation sessions and some meetings with youth teams have been held, and recruitment for both youth and staff participants is ongoing from all C5 agencies.
With input from C5 agencies, AHS Health Promotion Facilitators, mental health professionals, and an equity consultant, the team has created an appropriate onboarding process, including specific registration forms, consent forms, and demographic information forms. Three youth have expressed interest and have begun the onboarding process.
Changes: Based on feedback from mental health professionals, Youth Connect meetings will be split into two groups based on age. Each group (ages 15-17 and ages 18-25) will meet monthly. Feel free to contact Cheyanne if you have any questions.
Whenever Cheyanne gets stressed, she bakes something tasty (and typically chocolatey). Join her in the kitchen for a cake baking tutorial and chat about Youth Connect in a new video, linked below. Feel free to share this video with youth interested in the project.
C5 Youth Connect & Cake
Stress is a natural body reaction, but prolonged stress can cause negative health effects, both physically and mentally. One stress management technique is shaking therapy (aka therapeutic or neurogenic tremoring. “The approach involves shaking the body to release tension and trauma, helping to regulate the nervous system.” You can use shaking therapy while sitting or standing. Just focus on a body part and shake it for a few seconds. (Marnie Vinall and Joslyn Jelinek, 2021, Healthline. www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/can-shaking-your-body-heal-stress-and-trauma)
Tip: When you or a youth are feeling stressed or anxious, put on some music and shake or silly dance! Move your body freely and imagine all the tension leaving you.
February 11, 2025: Point Person Focus Group
TBD in February: First Youth Connect Meeting (dependent on recruitment)
Three more Point Person orientation sessions were held in late November and early December, and Wellness Ambassador recruitment began. Abdullah Ahmed (Program Coordinator – Complex Cases (Youth and Children)) joined as Point Person for the Newcomer Centre. Lauren Butler (High Risk Youth Worker – Youth and Young Adult Services) joined as Point Person for Boyle Street Community Services. Their orientation sessions have been scheduled.
Engagement with agencies to facilitate recruitment for staff training began on November 26, 2024. If you are interested in participating, please speak with a member of your agency’s management team or contact Cheyanne.
To assist in recruiting both youth and staff participants, postcards of the project were printed and distributed, and a digital version for youth was developed and sent. In the new year, Cheyanne will be working from varying C5 locations to facilitate engagement with staff and youth. Dates are listed below – check to see when she’ll be at your agency!
“… the simple act of coloring for twenty minutes can reduce anxiety and stress and can leave you feeling more content and calmer. … Studies have found that coloring can have a similar physiological response in the brain as the act of meditating by reducing outside noise and allowing for focus. In one study… results found all physical indicators of anxiety reduced when coloring, and that perceptions of anxiety lowered as well. These results make sense from a neurobiological perspective, as coloring can diminish activity in the amygdala.” (Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, 2023)
Tip: Keep a coloring book or pages and crayons, markers, or colored pencils in your office, car, or other place you may encounter youth needing support.
January 2024
January 22, 2024: Braemar School
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
“Alberta has one of the highest provincial rates of youth suicide in Canada and suicide is the second leading cause of death in this age group.”[1] Every day, eleven people in Edmonton attempt or die by suicide.[2] The impact of suicide, and particularly youth suicide, is far reaching.
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (November 23) is for recognizing the unique and complex grief that comes from losing a loved one to suicide, supporting those who have experienced loss, and promoting mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. We would like to take this opportunity to express our support for those affected by suicide.
Point people from most agencies have been recruited. An orientation session to their role in the project was held on November 21. Additional orientation sessions have been scheduled for those who could not attend.
Youth Connect officially launched on November 12 with a one-page description of the project, sent to the Point People for intra-agency distribution. A staff postcard is available for staff to have a quick project summary and further information through a QR code.
Development of the evaluation plan is ongoing, with support from Deanna Marler and Dianna Fondo from AHS. The team is considering how to ensure evaluation is accessible and reflective of youth experiences.
[1] Building Strength, Inspiring Hope: A Provincial Action Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2019 to 2024
[2] https://11ofus.edmonton.ca/
More information, as well as all project updates, can be found at: https://terracentre.ca/what-is-terra/c5-collaboration/c5-youth-connect/
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at terra@terracentre.ca. We're here to help.