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Who can attend this program?

• Youth ages 13 to 17
• Youth who can attend all 7 sessions in person (or virtually if province restrictions change)
• Y Mind Teen aims to support those experiencing mild to moderate anxiety.

Do I self-identify with having mild-moderate anxiety?

• Mild to moderate anxiety may have an impact on daily life, but does not severely interfere school, activities and relationships.
• Despite having days where worry and uneasiness feel particularly challenging for a teen experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, they still manage to engage in daily life activities.

Ways in which Y Mind Teen would be a best fit for teens at this stage in their mental health journey:

1. They are 13 to 18 years of age.
2. They express that anxiety is a primary concern right now.
3. Their anxiety is within the mild to moderate range.
4. Their schedule allows for punctual attendance of all seven group sessions.
5. They are comfortable/open to work within a group environment. That is, they feel comfortable and ready to participate, share insights, and add to discussion in a group environment.
6. They are at a cognitive learning comprehension level to be able to interpret metaphors, conceptualize and discuss concepts, and apply concepts to situational experiences.
7. They value open-mindedness and respect for others’ opinions and experiences and are willing to help foster a safe space for group members to share and receive support.

Ways in which Y Mind Teen may not be the best fit for teens at this stage in their mental health journey:

1. They are outside the age range.
2. They express that, or facilitators identify, that anxiety is not the only primary concern right now. For example, depression may be contributing to increased anxiety.
3. Their anxiety is within the moderate to severe range.
4. They are unable to punctually attend all seven group sessions.
5. They do not feel ready or comfortable enough to participate, engage, or interact with other participants within a group environment.
6. They are not at a cognitive learning comprehension level to be able to interpret metaphors, conceptualize and discuss concepts, and apply concepts to situational experiences.
7. They lack an openness to other people’s experiences and are not ready for a group experience at this stage.

In this program we are going to:

• get to know one another and share what we are comfortable with
• learn about stress, worry, and anxiety
• learn new tools and strategies from Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness that will help us to cope with anxiety and related experiences
• participate in different kinds of activities to make learning fun and enjoyable

How is the Y Mind Teen delivered?

• This program is delivered in a group-based format with 10 to12 teens and two Program Facilitators.
  
• The program facilitators are caring people who are mental health professionals.
• New groups are scary at first for most people, but as participants get to know one another it usually gets easier and becomes enjoyable.

What to expect

• It’s important to know that this program won’t be a good fit for everyone. Y Mind focuses on supporting teens who experience anxiety and related experiences, so if your experience is different than this program might not be the best fit right now.
• Unlike individual support, Y Mind is group-based, which means that you get a chance to meet others who are going through similar experiences. Although there is never any pressure to talk and share, participants find that they get much more out of the program when they do.