CIHR Planning Grant awarded to Dr. Lisa Bishop
Dr. Lisa Bishop, Dr. Stephen Darcy and their team of community based researchers received $12,500 from the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) for their work “Addressing Youth Mental Health and Addictions: Developing Community-Based strategies”.
Recognizing the importance of youth mental health and wellness, a partnership was formed between healthcare providers and community representatives with a goal to address youth mental health and wellness in a way that was responsive to the needs of the community.
This Community Alliance recognized the importance of finding creative ways to engage with, and educate youth about mental health and well-being.
Previous work included the development and delivery of a drama program aimed at promoting self-empowerment and protective behaviors in adolescents, while emphasizing/encouraging strong interpersonal relationships and community support.
This planning grant enabled the creation of a Youth Council as an alternative method to connect with the youth in the community. The key roles of the Youth Council members were: 1) to be the voice of youth for the Community Alliance; 2) to come up with ideas for youth programs and; 3) to help in the development and implementation a youth arts program.
In addition to the benefits experienced by the Youth Council members, the activities of the Council have had a valuable impact on community as a whole. Moreover, the Youth Council events encouraged community engagement, highlighted the talents of local youth, promoted the development of new skills, and supported a cleaner community.
The Youth Council helped to strengthen the relationship between the youth and the community, and provided them with the opportunity to take an active role in enhancing their community.