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.
Our free mental wellness programs, Y Mind and Mind Medicine, help participants learn how to manage stress and mild-to-moderate anxiety (individuals experiencing severe anxiety and stress that significantly impacts their ability to perform daily activities likely require more support than what Y Mind is intended to provide). Our programs are evidence-based and teach Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness.
To participate, you may self-refer, you do not need a diagnosis of anxiety, and you do not need to be a Y member.
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 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 Spring 2024. 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.
The dates and times for our next Victoria information sessions and a registration link are below:
Downtown Y In Person Information Session:
Wednesday April 17th at 5:45 pm 851 Broughton Street
or
Wednesday April 24th at 5:45 pm 851 Broughton StreetDowntown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Wednesdays May 1st – June 12th, 2024 at 6 pm -7:30 pm, 851 Broughton StreetThe 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 Spring 2024. If you are interested in a group at Westhills YMCA-YWCA, please contact us. 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 April 23rd at 5:45pm 851 Broughton Street
or
Tuesday April 30th at 5:45pm 851 Broughton StreetDowntown Y In Person Program Sessions:
Tuesdays May 7 – June 18, 2024 6pm – 8:30pm 851 Broughton StreetY Mind Youth is also being offered out in the Westshore by Pacific Centre Family Services at 324 Goldstream Ave this Winter. If you are interested in a group out in the Westshore, please contact Julia at jleggett@pcfsa.org
*Expecting an email from the Y team… please ensure you check your junk email folders occasionally emails may be flagged as spam.
Y Mind Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the program really free
Yes! The program is free for participants thanks to our generous funders.
- Do I need a Y membership to participate in Y Mind?
No! You don’t need to be a member to join Y Mind. In fact, Y Mind Teen and Youth participants attending Y Mind at Vancouver Island Y receive a FREE Y membership during their participation in Y Mind.
- How will Y Mind help me?
Y Mind is a mental wellness group-based program for people experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety, stress, and worry. Perhaps this is your first-time seeking help or anxiety is something which is starting to impact your life. This could be the program for you. Participants of the program learn about stress, worry, anxiety, and ways to cope using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness.
Over 4000 people have attended Y Mind across Canada, and through evaluating the outcomes of the program, we have found that those who come to Y Mind experience a decrease in anxiety and an increase in their well-being. - Is Y Mind a counselling/therapy group?
Y Mind is not a therapy group. It is a space to learn tools and strategies to cope with anxiety and live the life you want to live alongside other people.
- What will I be doing in the program and what can I expect?
Each week for seven weeks, you will attend a group session (Youth 2.5 hours and Teen 1.5 hours) which will have approximately 10 to 12 participants and two program facilitators. You will receive a workbook to help you keep track of your learning, as well as a copy of the book The Happiness Trap, which gives more information on how to use tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In addition to learning ACT, you’ll also try the techniques out in the sessions, take part in fun group activities, practice mindfulness, and connect with others in the group.
- What are the eligibility requirements to participate in Y Mind?
Teens:
Individuals who are between the ages of 13 and 18 experiencing stress, worry, and mild-to-moderate anxiety, and residing in British Columbia are eligible to participate in the Y Mind Teen program. You do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to be able to participate. Teens who wish to participate also do not require parental consent.
Youth:
Individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 30; experiencing stress, worry, and mild-to-moderate anxiety; and residing in British Columbia are eligible to participate in the Y Mind Youth program. You do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to be able to participate. - Do I need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in the program?
No, you do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in Y Mind. Participants who are experiencing stress, worry, or mild-to-moderate anxiety can self-refer. Teens ages 13 to 18 do not require parental consent to participate.
- Where is Y Mind offered in BC?
Y Mind is offered at YMCA locations and by our community partners across BC. The current YMCA associations that offer Y Mind either in-person or online include YMCA BC in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, Kamloops, and Northern BC; YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island; and YMCA of Southern Interior BC. If you live outside of these communities and want to see if Y Mind is available near you, please email us mindfulness@vancouverislandy.ca at or fill out our inquiry form.
- What are the Y Mind facilitators like?
All Y Mind facilitators have a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Social Work and are experienced in youth mental health, as well as in facilitating groups. Our facilitators are understanding, caring, and supportive. Many have their own experiences of navigating anxiety, so they understand that attending a group like Y Mind is often a big and brave step. Our facilitators are there to explain the Y Mind concepts, facilitate connections with your peers, and support you throughout the program.
- What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful mindfulness-based therapy which currently leads the field in terms of research, application, and results.
ACT gets its name from one of its core messages: to accept what is out of your personal control, while committing to action that will improve your quality of life.
The aim of ACT is to help people create a rich, full, and meaningful life while effectively handling the pain and stress that life inevitably brings. ACT (pronounced as the word “act” and not as the initials) does this by:-Teaching you skills to deal with anxious thoughts and feelings effectively—in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness skills.)
-Helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you (I.E., your values), and then use that knowledge to guide, inspire, and motivate you to change your life for the better.
Other Y Mind Programs:
The Y Mind Teen Groups are currently being offered in Victoria and in person through our community partner sites. In Courtenay and Campbell River. Y Mind Teen is also offered virtual through other Y’s and partner sites in BC.
Mind Medicine for Indigenous Teen and Youth are being offered through First Nations Health Authority and Hulitan Family and Community Services Society (Teen).
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 and Youth Mind Medicine for Indigenous people on Vancouver Island contact First Nations Health Authority – Hannah Walther Hannah.Watler@fnha.ca
In person Teen Mind Medicine for Indigenous Teens contact Nick Ruedy nruedy@hulitan.ca at Hulitan Family and Community Services Society
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
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 2024!
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)
