Mental health challenges shouldn’t get in the way of doing what you love. Our programs help overcome barriers and get you on the right track to where you’d like to be.
YMCA Canada and Canadian indie pop band Walk off the Earth are excited to release a modern take on the Y.M.C.A. anthem to raise awareness of expanded access to the free program, Y Mind. Y.M.C.A – Walk off the Earth. Check it out here
Y Mind Teen – Ages 13-18
Y Mind Teen is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. This program supports teens ages 13 to 18 who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to cope with stress and anxiety. Y Mind Teen is led by trained mental health professionals and educators and gives teens the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
- Program Information
The group meets once a week (1 ½ hours) for seven weeks and is run in a welcoming and supportive environment. Program facilitators are trained mental health professionals and educators skilled at teaching healthy coping skills based on evidence-based approaches of Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Participants engage in fun and creative activities to promote learning and discussion and have the opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar experiences, so they don’t feel alone. All participants receive a free book, workbook and YMCA-YWCA membership for up to 14 weeks.
“The Y Mind Teen Group gave me useful tools and strategies to deal with worrying, anxiety and panic attacks. Life is still a struggle sometimes, but somehow I feel less alone and helpless. I look forward to getting out of bed, and I feel like I have a whole group of people my age with similar experiences cheering me on.” – Past Y Mind Teen Participant- Ages 13-18
- Experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, stress, and/or worrying (no formal diagnosis required)
- Ability to attend an Information Session as well as all group sessions
- Not currently experiencing severe mental health symptoms
- Registration Information
The Y Mind Groups are being offered in person at the Downtown Y in Victoria in the Fall 2023. If you are interested in a group at Westhills YMCA-YWCA, please contact us. If you are not able to attend these for any reason, both virtual and in person groups are available to those in other parts of BC and Vancouver Island. Please contact us at mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca so we can support you in accessing a group (either in person or virtual) in your area.
All participants must register for one of our online information sessions and a one-on-one intake to register for the program. The dates and times for our next Victoria information sessions and a registration link are below:
Downtown Y In Person Information Session:
Wednesday October 4th at 5:45 pm or
Wednesday October 11th at 5:45 pm
Downtown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Wednesdays October 25th – December 6th, 2023 at 6pm, 851 Broughton Street
The Y Mind Teen Groups are currently being offered in Victoria and in person through our community partner sites. In Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Hardy. Y Mind Teen is also offered virtual through other Y’s and partner sites in BC. Contact mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca for more information.
In person Teen Campbell River contact: Laurie Overton laurie.overton@crfs.ca, Campbell River Family Services (crfamilyservices.ca)
In person Teen Courtenay contact: Angie Prescott angie.prescott@jhsni.bc.ca John Howard Society North Island
In person Teen Port Hardy contact: North Island Community Counselling Services (Foundry) Port Hardy nicccs.org
For School groups: Please contact Lana at mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca, or your school counsellor to connect you with a program in your area.
Virtual Teen groups contact: YMCA Northern BC Meg Miners meg.miners@bc.ymca.ca YMCA Northern BC
The registration process for Y Mind Teen includes attendance at an Information Session (either online or in person, depending on the site) and a brief intake meeting with one of our facilitators to determine if the group is a best fit for the teen.
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.
Y Mind Youth – Ages 18 – 30
The Y Mind Youth programs have now returned to in person delivery in Victoria held at the Downtown Y on Broughton St. Online groups are available with enough interest or through our partner sites on Vancouver Island as well as other Y’s across BC.
If anxiety is impacting your life and preventing you from doing what you want or need to do, this group is for you. Y Mind Youth is a free seven-week program delivered across BC. Y Mind Youth supports people ages 18-30 who are experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate anxiety to learn and practice evidence-based strategies to increase coping. This group is led by trained mental health professionals and gives young adults the chance to connect with others who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
- Program Information
The group meets once a week (2 ½ hours) and provides a safe, supportive environment where you can meet others who have had similar experiences; it also includes:
- Educational workshops about anxiety and other mental health related topics
- Practicing evidence-based mindfulness techniques during workshops, a proven tool to help manage anxiety
- An introduction to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidenced based therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies
- Take-home resources to help manage anxiety in between weekly meetings
- A two-month YMCA-YWCA Vancouver Island gym membership to encourage young adults to manage their anxiety through physical activity
If anxiety is impacting your life and preventing you from doing what you want or need to do, this group can help support you. Join us to learn mindfulness techniques, get helpful tools and resources, and meet other like-minded youth.
Check out this video about the Y Mind Groups.
- Registration Information
The Y Mind Groups are being offered in person at the Downtown Y in Victoria in Fall 2023. If you are interested in a group at Westhills YMCA-YWCA, please contact us. If you are not able to attend these for any reason, both virtual and in person groups are available to those in other parts of BC. Please contact us at mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca so we can support you in accessing a group (either in person or virtual) in your area.
All participants must register and attend one of our virtual information sessions and a one-on-one intake to register for the program. The dates and times for our next Victoria information sessions and a registration link are below:
Downtown Y In Person Information Session:
Tuesday September 19th at 5:45 pm 851 Broughton Street or
Tuesday September 26th at 5:45 pm 851 Broughton Street
Downtown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Tuesdays October 10th – November 21st, 2023 at 6pm, 851 Broughton Street
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.
Other Y Mind Programs:
Youth Y Mind- Sooke/Westshore
In Person Youth Y Mind is being offered in Sooke and Westshore at Pacific Centre Family Services Association, contact for more information: https://pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/
Online Groups Offered by Y’s across BC:
We will be offering an online group this Winter stay tuned for more information!
Y Mind 18-30– YMCA BC are offering virtual groups.
Program Dates: contact mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca
Y Mind Adult – AGES 31+
YMCA BC are doing virtual Adult 31+ groups.
For more information, please contact mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca
DOWNLOADABLE POSTERS
Download a Y Mind poster.
CONTACT US
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.
Still need more assistance….
Y Mindfulness Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Ymindfulness/
If you are in crisis or need emotional support you can visit www.youthspace.ca 6pm-midnight PST or by texting 778-783-0177
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at : 1-888-494-3888, go to the hospital, or call 911.
For additional support, please check out these online resources, or contact us for a list of local mental health supports:
Mood Disorders Association of BC
Foundry – Where Wellness Takes Shape – (foundrybc.ca)
