The YMCA of Greater Moncton is partnering with Eastern College to offer two free online mental health programs for youth.
The eight week programs will focus on topics including self-esteem, anxiety, and suicide, as well as coping strategies.
YMCA Community Action Network Coordinator Nicole Wry says concerns over mental health are increasing, “I think in light of COVID-19, we have seen a huge rise in the need for these support systems. For ages 16 to 18, there isn’t a lot out there, and what services there are, are being bombarded by the fact that so many people need help right now.”
Starting next week, the programs will be available online, a joint initiative of the YMCA of Greater Moncton’s Community Action Network and students from Eastern College’s Child and Youth Care with Addictions classes in Moncton and Fredericton.
Wry says, “I think with these programs, they teach youth that mental health is something you have all of the time. Everyone deals with mental health, but not everyone has a mental illness. If we are able to take care of ourselves mentally, then we are able to become a little bit more successful in our lives.”
The programs will include:
–Relationship Building and Belonging: Topics of this eight-week program will include self-esteem, building a healthy relationship with yourself and others, healthy risks versus risky behaviours, anxiety, and suicide awareness. The program will be held Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., beginning Tuesday, July 14.
–Mindfulness: This eight-week program looks at using mindfulness in new ways. The program encourages youth to be mindful of everyday activities such as eating, exercising, and how they feel from day to day. Youth will learn new coping strategies to support their mental health. The program will be held Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., beginning Wednesday, July 15.
“So, the first course is all about having a relationship for yourself, but also relationships for others. It focuses on self-esteem, mental health, and how those two are interconnected. The second one looks at mental illness and how you can combat your mental illness,” Wry says.
Youth interested in taking part in the online programs must register in advance.
Sessions will be held on Zoom.
Click here to register for Relationship Building and Belonging
Click here to register for Mindfulness registration
