**PRESS RELEASE – THE GROVE WELLINGTON GUELPH HUB**
This month, The Grove Wellington Guelph Hub, a site of Youth Wellness Hubs of Ontario offering a one-stop shop for youth mental health and wellness services, has continued to take a unique approach in addressing the youth mental health crisis. Hiring Youth Ambassadors for the third time, The Grove aims to continue the program’s positive impacts on the lives of local youth.
Beginning in the Spring of 2021, The Grove has hired Youth Ambassadors to fulfill a variety of roles within the organization. Youth ambassadors oversee the drop-in programs at each of the hub sites, ensuring there is always a friendly face when youth arrive, provide tours of the facilities, engage in peer-to-peer support and participate in programming including workshops and events. Most importantly, Youth Ambassadors contribute to programming at The Grove, providing relatable services and content designed by youth, for youth.
“As youth ambassadors, we are in a unique position where we can allow our connections to grow in a very authentic way,” says Cachzmiera Wisniewski, Youth Ambassador at The Grove Fergus. “There aren’t many roles that allow for rapport building by playing pool and basketball or chatting about video games. Participating or chatting about these things may seem superficial to others, but it offers someone a sense of connection. It shows them directly that we are interested in what they are interested in, which can mean the world to someone who might not be open to talking about some of the things going on in their personal lives. Being a youth ambassador is being a peer that can offer a listening ear and some guidance as to what supports exist within The Grove or in the community.”
A crisis in youth mental health is evident and inarguable, as seen through gathered statistics. The Grove’s approach to utilize youth in the solution has proved a successful tactic, with youth attendees and Youth Ambassadors reporting the high level of comfortability and relatability that exists in peer to peer support.
The Grove, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW), have seen demand for youth mental health services increase by 40 per cent in 2021, estimating that four out of five youth are struggling with mental health or substance use issues in Guelph and Wellington County. As of January 2022, there are 71 youth and young adults waiting for Psychiatry services, 85 youth waiting for Counselling & Treatment Services, and 159 young adults waiting for Dialectical Behaviour Treatment services in Guelph and Wellington area.
There are currently 3,678 people waiting for ongoing mental health and addictions care in Waterloo Wellington, posing a significant risk for the community. CMHA WW’s Here 24/7 Service Coordinators continue to do their best to connect people to available care in the community including counselling partners, but there are critical capacity issues across the entire system. Of the 146,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 26 living in Guelph and Wellington County, it is estimated that over half are now in need of mental health and wellness services.
The Grove recognizes that being relevant and relatable is critical in reaching youth in the community. Youth Ambassadors have been essential in this process, as they provide insights that only someone from that demographic can accurately provide. Fran MacDonald, Site Lead at The Grove – Erin Main Place Youth Centre and Youth Wellness and Operational Sustainability Director at East Wellington Community Services, says that, “Employment with our ambassador program ensures The Grove continually has the voices of youth at the forefront. Our ambassadors are integral to the operations and represent the youth in our community. When a youth enters a hub and sees someone like themselves, it paves the way for developing the peer relationships that our youth are seeking. When youth are in need of supports and services, reaching out for help is much easier when trusting and supportive relationships are already established.”
Staying true to The Grove’s mission of building bright futures for local youth, this sentiment also extends to Youth Ambassadors. The experience for Youth Ambassadors has opened the door to new experiences and opportunities, such as mentorship experience, leadership opportunities, growth in their interpersonal relationships and other responsibilities.
“If you were to tell 15-year-old me that a job would allow me to get over my fear of public speaking while also practicing pool skills, I would think you were joking,” says Cachzmiera Wisniewski. “This role as a youth ambassador has highlighted many different qualities that I hold as a worker and an individual that I likely would have been too fearful of expressing in any other setting. To have a team of like-minded and kind-hearted individuals as co-workers who want to see you succeed in every aspect of your journey alters the way you view the risks you take. Being a youth ambassador is a role that allows you to be inspired by the youth in our community and allows you to be the most authentic version of yourself.”
Currently working on opening its sixth and seventh locations across Guelph and Wellington County, The Grove has seen over 9,000 youth visits since September 2021. This includes over 5,700 youth drop in visits, over 2,000 wellness/recreation visits, over 1,300 employment/education visits, 80 walk in counselling visits, 16 visits for substance use support and 15 visits for 2SLGBTQI support.
