Mental Wellness
Y Mind is a free 7 week Mental Health Program for youth who struggle with mild to moderate anxiety
Have you checked in with how you’re feeling lately and is mental wellness a concern? Everyone experiences stress and worry. Y Mind is here to help young people learn how to cope with stress so they can live their best lives.
Facilitated by trained mental health professionals, Y Mind takes place in a safe group-setting enabling participants to connect with others who are having similar experiences.
Y Mind gave me something positive to look forward to every Thursday. A place to meet new, non-judgemental people. I learned how to be more mindful and how to respect others’ emotions better. I just need to control and regulate my emotions now.
I couldn’t properly get a hold of my thought spirals and I was struggling to self-regulate my emotions. Prioritizing more mindfulness techniques that I learned from ACT has been helping me lately even during the worst times. Sharing my thoughts in a group helped me come out of my shell. Y Mind was a safe space to discuss life experiences and have people listen without trying to “ save” me . It has been a wonderful, eye- opening journey. I still have anxiety and all the other things, but the lessons I learned over the past 7 weeks have given me more awareness and it’s motivated me to live my by values more.
I was very sad and I felt hopeless and was looking for a way to help myself not feel that way anymore. I have been able to take in so many things that I never even thought of before, because it was kind of like a group with so many different perspectives to think about. I enjoyed how open and vulnerable we could be it was really special. I learned emotion regulation and how to stick to my values. Things are tough sometimes but I feel like I have better skills to cope. It has lowered my anxiety a lot, my mindset has changed and things don’t feel so threatening to me.
I was overthinking and often being anxious about interpersonal things. I still have the struggles but I am using some of the skills I learned to regulate. Getting to know new people was great, realizing that many share the same struggles I have. I learned mindfulness. Acceptance and to trust myself.
What is Y Mind?
Y Mind is a free program intended for youth aged 13-29 who experience mild to moderate anxiety, stress, and low mood. It is best suited to those for whom anxiety is the primary concern. The curriculum is based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and includes education about mindfulness, mindfulness techniques and self-compassion.
Participants are encouraged to self-select to be part of the program, independent of caregivers or other external support(s).
About Y Mind Sessions
Y Mind is offered in person at the Peter Gilgan Family YMCA located in south Oakville at 410 Rebecca Street or virtually.
We are currently inviting registrations for our Winter Sessions.
- Participant age groups:
- Youth, 13-18 years
- Young Adult, 18-30 years
- Frequency: Once per week
- Duration: Each session is 90-120 minutes long.
A diagnosis or referral is not necessary in order to participate. All sessions are free to attend but require registration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This is a self-referral program focusing on early intervention and prevention techniques for those between the ages of 13-30 experiencing mid-to-moderate challenges with stress, worry, and anxiety, and who wish to learn ways to better manage these emotions. It is asked that participants be able to commit to the full 7 sessions of the program as it is cumulative and builds upon each session the week prior.
A registrant form can be filled out to show your interest to our facilitators in participating in the program. From there, facilitators will reach out to you to request a time and date to connect with you via telephone for a brief 10 to 15 minute intake call. Facilitators will ask some questions to ensure the program is a good fit for you in addition to learning about your hopes of the program in being a participant.
The program typically runs 4 times a year: winter, spring, summer and fall. Enrollment occurs on an ongoing basis, to which dates are not confirmed until the required number of participants have been reached. You can expect to have the program’s sessions run on a weekday with a 6 pm start time. The program can be delivered both in-person or virtually based on majority participant demand and what format the program was delivered in the previous session to the new cycle, in addition to other influencing factors.
The program is not considered therapy and is not a substitute for therapy, but provides curriculum based off a therapeutic modality called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The program implements pillars of ACT such as mindfulness practices, acceptance and willingness concepts, cognitive defusion techniques, discussions around what it means to live a value driven lifestyle, and how to achieve that by performing committed actions. The program also provides participants active in the program a complimentary 3-month gym membership at the YMCA of Oakville to encourage physical activity as an additional pillar towards the supporting of good mental health.
Sessions take place in a group setting and run approximately 1.5 hours with breaks provided. Sessions include coverage of the topic of that day, with time allotted for ice breaker games, participant discussion, and sharing of experiences in the group if desired. Sessions work to be as inclusive as possible of varying and individual experiences but asks for participants to consider the shared space and importance of being respectful and confidential of sensitive information shared while in session.
The program provides all materials, including a workbook, to participate in it. Participants are required only to bring themselves, as well as a piece of ID to set up the free 3-month membership. There is no cost for attending or participating in the program.
Additional Resources
For more information
Could you or a friend benefit from some help in managing stress? Complete the form below and we will be in touch.
You can also e-mail Jena or Larissa should you have any questions.
Registration Form
Acceptance into the program is conditional based upon a mandatory 10-15 minute intake phone call.