On February 22-23, 2023, key stakeholders in the youth mental health and substance use (YMHSU) sector came together in Vancouver, BC and virtually to attend the 2023 Frayme Learning Institute.
Frayme leads a national network that connects mental health, health and social services working with youth and young adults to accelerate the integration and implementation of youth care in Canada. The Learning Institute is one of Canada’s only nationwide conferences solely dedicated to the YMHSU sector and provides a unique opportunity to bring together different players to drive knowledge into action.
Members of the Youth and family mentorship, engagement, and co-design CoI had the opportunity to present a virtual poster at the conference and share their experiences on youth and family engagement.
View a copy of the poster below or download the PDF:
Poster Abstract
We are youth and families with extensive lived/living experience of mental health concerns, service systems, engagement and co-design. Across sectors and at every level, the engagement of youth and families with lived/living experience is being sought for system-driven initiatives. How well these opportunities offer relational safety and meaning is highly variable. Young people and families can and do experience harm in these settings, often compounded by issues related to structural oppression, social determinants of health and intersectionality. It is possible to mitigate potential harms by promoting safety, belonging and opportunities for collective impact.
Our poster goals are to:
- Share considerations that youth and families identify as important for safe(r), meaningful and effective engagement, and
- Invite youth and families to co-create a supportive and self-directed community to help fill gaps in the body of engagement knowledge related to creating meaning while minimizing harm.
Poster Presenters
- Madeleine Luvisa
- Lulwama Mulalu
- Alexa Vrzovski
- Louise Murray-Leung
- Hinna Hafeez