Talk To Youth Lately (TTYL) is a youth engagement program that asks young people how they think services should be delivered and uses their knowledge and expertise to deliver innovative programming. Examples of the work of TTYL and the YAP (Youth Advisory Panel) including performing talent shows, educating young people about mental health in high schools, performing live theatre shows to raise awareness about possibilities for a more recovery oriented mental health system, and much much more. For more information contact Emily Collette 416-535-8501 ext 1927. Talk To Youth Lately is a quickly growing and expanding project so keep checking back here for more information as the program evolves.
Talk to Youth Lately? (TTYL)
1. What is Talk to Youth Lately (TTYL)?
TTYL is a new mental health youth engagement project in Scarborough.
2. What is TTYL’s mission?
To implement effective practices of youth engagement in developing and delivering mental health educational programs and youth-led mental health support services in Scarborough.
To increase the mental health knowledge of young people and related stakeholders in schools and/or other community settings in Scarborough.
To give Scarborough youth a voice in the designing, delivering, and decision-making process when reaching out and/or educating youth and related staff about mental health issues.
To help facilitate opportunities for youth to have a voice in the delivery of mental health services in Scarborough.
3. Why is there a need for a TTYL youth engagement project in Scarborough?
Current statistics show that 1 out of every 5 Canadians will experience a mental health issue within their lifetime, and that approximately 3 out of every 100 people will experience a psychotic episode. Since initial symptoms often occur during the teenage years, youth need accurate information about mental health issues to help encourage them to seek appropriate supports.
There are approximately 2,700 young people currently experiencing psychosis in Scarborough but there is no formal program to help identify these young people.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 16-24 (after automobile accidents).
Studies show that as many as 1/3 of people experiencing mental health issues do not seek supports, often because of concerns about stigma. TTYL believes that issues of stigma amongst youth are best addressed by using a youth-to-youth engagement strategy.
There is currently no formal mental health awareness program for youth in Scarborough.
Youth engagement is a right. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all young people have the right to participate.
The Canada Health Network states that youth engagement enhances health because it offers young people a chance to develop important decision-making and problem-solving skills, develop meaningful relationships and bolster self-esteem.
