What is youth engagement?
The New Mentality defines youth engagement as “empowering all youth as valued partners in addressing, and making decisions about issues that affect them personally and/or that they believe to be important” (Pereira, N., 2007).
Why is youth engagement important?
- To decrease the stigma of mental illness and raise awareness of services and supports available for youth experiencing mental health issues
- To create opportunities for youth to build leadership skills and learn transferable skills such as facilitation, teamwork, and project management
- To facilitate positive relationships between youth, their peers, and adults allies that allow for personal growth, increased confidence, and a sense of belonging