Our report, Youth Voices: A Guide to Meaningful Youth Engagement in Mental Health Funding, co-written by members of the Youth Advisory Group and members of our Grand Challenges Canada team (host of Being), explores the practical realities of meaningful engagement and shares our lessons after two years of partnership with the youth advisors. We reflect on challenges (such as limited capacity, operational constraints, and competing priorities) and share how we’re working through them.
Youth Voices offers strategies co-developed with our youth advisors and based on our experiences, for funders to meaningfully include young people at every stage of the funding cycle. As Being is a multi-faceted initiative with partners focusing on mental health advocacy, learning, and research, we also explore meaningful youth engagement in these areas.
The Youth Advisors also share insights through a roadmap for engaging youth effectively in funding decisions, urging funders to ensure they consider:
- Clear engagement plans
- Consistent communication
- Fair compensation
- Opportunities for mentorship and growth
While grounded in Being’s experience, the lessons in Youth Voices can be adapted to various youth engagement efforts in mental health funding.
Anthology of Personal Stories from the Youth Advisors
Alongside the report, we’re also sharing Youth Voices: Anthology of Personal Stories from the Being Youth and Lived Experience Advisors — powerful reflections that bring to life the impact of youth leadership in mental health funding.
