New youth wellness initiative is planned for North Bay
Outloud North Bay is partnering with an organization known as "Lived Experience & Recovery Network" to kick-start a peer support training program for youth in Nipissing.
Seth Compton, Outloud’s executive director, and the team from LERN are getting ready to help youth facing mental health challenges.
"We've had some kids self-harming, attempted suicide,” explained Compton. “Those things for me as a parent are heartbreaking that the kids are experiencing these kind of feelings. It's been a rough two years with covid, isolation and online learning."
A $200,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will allow LERN to use the 2SLGBTQ+ space to provide peer support training programs for youth aged 12-18 for the next three years. The program hopes to support about 120 youth.
“Growing up, I felt super alone and was basically the only out gay man in my high school for the four years I was there,” said LERN Board Chair Mark Caldwell. “So, I know what it's like to be bullied and not have someone to confide in."
The first cohort of 10 students will be give on July 26th and consist of 8 sessions. There will be more sessions to follow in the fall/winter. LERN certified trainers and peer support workers Kari Sterling and Erin Russell will lead the training.
"Being a peer supporter myself, there's nothing greater than the feel of being able to walk alongside somebody and help them along their journey whatever that means to them,” said Sterling.
It's hoped once the youth graduate from the training, it will empower them to become leaders and partner with other community agencies to offer peer support for other youth their age while at the same time complete an internship and get volunteer hours.
“Sometimes it is definitely hard to talk to an adult about stuff," explained Russell.
According to the mental health commission of Canada less than 20 per cent of youth receive appropriate help for mental illness and suicide is the second leading cause of death for Canadian youth aged 15-24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.