Youth in Canada are experiencing the fastest growing rates of opioid use disorder and mental illness; we know that youth who are marginalized based on their sex, gender, sexuality, race, poverty, Indigeneity, and/or have experience with the child welfare system are overrepresented in these numbers. Yet, few resources exist that integrate diverse youth voices into substance use and mental health service design that meet their unique needs. This community-based research project will address this gap, by working with youth who have lived and living experiences of mental health and substance use challenges.

Alongside a “Pathways Youth Working Group” we will co-create a collective vision for more meaningful, non-judgemental, and accessible mental health and substance use services, grounded in each person’s own experience and recommendations. This vision will be translated into an intervention to pilot, implement, and evaluate at the Victoria Youth Clinic (Foundry Victoria) – and will inform implementation strategies for other Foundry Centres across British Columbia.

Click here to see our projected 2023-2024 project pathway plan.