Here at YWS, we have many ways for our community to get involved. From volunteering on-site at the shelter, to meal drop-offs and off-site kit building, we work with our community as best we can to help support the youth who call YWS home.

This blog post was written by Shabana Shiwprashad, a long-time supporter and former member of our Engagement Committee. Shabana met with our Mental Health Therapist, Ayesha Musud, to learn more about the support our youth have at the shelter, as well as the types of support that all youth enrolled in school could have access to when they need help.

Thank you, Shabana, for taking the time to research resources to help all youth excel this year at school! 

Shabana Shiwprashad

Shabana Shiwprashad

Blog Post Volunteer

Mental Health Supports for the School Year

As children of all ages returned to school this September, it can be a challenging time for them to navigate the post-pandemic school system and the anxieties and fears associated with it.

Specifically at Youth Without Shelter, youth residents have coped with a lot of different circumstances – coming into the shelter system with trauma and trust issues, staying in the shelter system for a prolonged period due to the pandemic and now going back to school in person with anticipated worry and anxiety. The staff at Youth Without Shelter have provided the youth with many different resources to help reduce these anxieties and move forward with their goals and education. For instance, counsellors at Youth Without Shelter express to youth that their fears are valid and suggest alternative options that the youth can choose to complete their education such as online courses and apprenticeships. The youth are resilient on their journey to achieve their goals with the support of the counsellors at YWS. At Youth Without Shelter, we are very proactive when it comes to mental health by developing a mental health program that complements other programs that we offer such as our housing and after-care program.

Youth of all ages have been experiencing heightened mental health challenges including anxiety from the disruption of remote and in-person school models during the pandemic. Parents and educators need to be compassionate and empathetic towards children about what they are experiencing. According to the Clinical Manager at YWS, open dialogue about anxiety can help children to cope with their mental health struggles. For instance, parents can talk to their children about anxiety and normalize talking about mental health.

Below is a list of additional resources to help youth and parents cope with youth’s mental health struggles for the remainder of the year:

 

Kids Help Phone – phone and online counselling for children and youth; English and French

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health guide – a guide for youth and parents with going back to school

Be Safe App by mindyourmind – a free mobile app that supports young people in reaching out during crisis and finding resources in their area

BounceBack – free skill-building program that helps adults and youth 15+ with mental health struggles. Provides program specifically for care providers in supporting youth with mental health problems.

Connex Ontario – help line for people experiencing mental health, substance abuse and gambling problems

Youth Wellness Hubs – hubs across Ontario providing mental health services for youth

Youthspace – free online crisis & emotional support chat service for youth under 30

STRIDES Toronto – counselling for youth living in Toronto

Access Point – centralized point for youth 14+ to apply for mental health and addiction support services

Family Service Toronto – counselling services for individuals and families

Daily Bread Food Bank – helps to find a food bank in your area

Across Boundaries – provides mental health and addiction services for racialized communities

Black Youth Helpline – stay in school and other support services for black youth

LGBT Youth Line – phone and online peer support for 2SLGBTQ+

Hope for Wellness Helpline – phone counselling for Indigenous people across Canada

International Student Connect – support for international students in Ontario

Get Help Now – provides additional resources for youth

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