FROM THE WELLNESS CENTRE: Wellness Centre launches Young & Empowered: a new program for youth and young adults aged 15 to 30
Submitted by Verity Jordan, program co-ordinator at the Wellness Centre
Once again, the Wellness Centre at Jeffery Hale is celebrating Mental Health Week during the first week of May, this time with the launch of a program called “Young & Empowered.” This brand-new program, which focuses on the well-being of youth in the community aged 15 to 30, is made possible thanks to funding through the Youth Mental Health Initiative from the Community Health and Social Services Network (CHSSN), with financial contributions from the Secrétariat à la jeunesse and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation.
The objectives of Young & Empowered include increasing awareness of the needs and challenges that exist in mental health, providing information about mental health resources and offering mental health activities and events for young English-speaking Quebecers. It also aims to increase youth engagement in the community and help build leadership skills.
The program couldn’t have happened without the Wellness Centre’s fantastic group of Wellness Ambassadors. These seven youth volunteers chose the program’s name, completed Pathfinder Network training courses and evaluated ease of access to services in English for young people. They have also shared their talented voices through a blog, article, letter, poem or podcast, which you can discover on the Young & Empowered Voices page on the Wellness Centre website (wejh.ca).
“Being a Wellness Ambassador has been a great opportunity to learn about local resources which can be adapted to English speakers. It has also allowed me to make great friends. I have met many people and learned lots of great things from this opportunity! I am thankful for the supportive team at the Wellness Centre at Jeffery Hale,” 2024-25 Wellness Ambassador Emma Doucette said about her experience.
The ambassadors are now looking forward to seeing other youth and young adults when they each host an activity. Several events are coming up in May and June for youth aged 15 to 30: a talk about mental health given by trained youth speakers with Jack.org, a legal workshop with Éducaloi to help youth know their rights when moving out, a Pound® workout activity, a day of well-being activities with a picnic, a hike at Jacques-Cartier Park, a session on expressing yourself through art therapy with a certified art therapist. and a nutrition-related workshop with a registered dietitian.
Program co-ordinator Verity Jordan stated, “I have enjoyed assisting the youth to bring this program to life. I’m glad the Wellness Centre can offer these activities to young people in our community and make a positive difference in improving their mental health and well-being.”
More details are available on the Wellness Centre website (wejh.ca), on Facebook (Wellness Centre at Jeffery Hale) and on Instagram (@wejh.ca). You are also welcome to contact Verity Jordan, program co-ordinator for WE Mind Mental Health and Young & Empowered, by email at vjordan@jhpartners.net or by phone at 418-684-5333, ext. 11932. The Wellness Centre is managed by Jeffery Hale Community Partners.