Y Mind Teen
Y Mind Teen is a free seven-week mental wellness program for teens ages 13 to 18 who are experiencing symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety or stress. Participants learn and practice evidence-based strategies to help manage anxiety.
Y Mind Teen is led by trained mental health professionals and gives teens the chance to connect with peers who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
Y Mind Youth
Y Mind Youth is a free seven-week mental wellness program for young people who are aged 18 to 30 and struggling with mild-to-moderate anxiety or stress. Anxiety can impact our lives by preventing us from doing what we want or need to do. It can also be an isolating experience.
This free program brings young people who have similar thoughts and feelings together. Participants learn evidence-based skills from trained mental health professionals and report feeling reduced anxiety, increased well-being and feeling less alone following the program.
Upcoming sessions
Group |
Language |
Information on the Group's Process |
Time |
Information session link* |
A
Remote |
French |
Information session
Thursday, April 11
Program date
Thursday, April 18 - Thursday, May 30
|
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
Register now |
B
Remote |
French |
Information session
Tuesday, April 16
Program date
Tuesday, April 23 - Tuesday, June 4
|
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
Register now |
C
Remote |
English |
Information session
Monday, April 15
Program date
Monday, April 22 - Monday, June 3
|
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
Register now |
*Registrations will be automatically closed once the 25 limit is reached.
1. Is the program really free?
Yes! The program is free for participants thanks to our generous funders.
2. Do I need a YMCA membership to participate in Y Mind?
No! You don't need to be a member to join Y Mind.
3. How will Y Mind help me?
Y Mind is a mental wellness group-based program for people experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety, stress, and worry. Perhaps this is your first-time seeking help or anxiety is something which is starting to impact your life. This could be the program for you. Participants of the program learn about stress, worry, anxiety, and ways to cope using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness.
Over 4000 people have attended Y Mind across Canada, and through evaluating the outcomes of the program, we have found that those who come to Y Mind experience a decrease in anxiety and an increase in their well-being.
4. Is Y Mind a counselling/therapy group?
Y Mind is not a therapy group. It is a space to learn tools and strategies to cope with anxiety and live the life you want to live alongside other people.
5. What will I be doing in the program and what can I expect?
Each week for seven weeks, you will attend a group session for 1.5 hours which will have approximately 10 to 12 participants and two program facilitators. You will receive a workbook to help you keep track of your learning, as well as a copy of the book The Happiness Trap which gives more information on how to use tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In addition to learning ACT, you'll also try the techniques out in the sessions, take part in fun group activities, practice mindfulness, and connect with others in the group.
6. What are the eligibility requirements to participate in Y Mind?
Individuals who are between the ages of 13 and 18 experiencing stress, worry, and mild-to-moderate anxiety. You do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to be able to participate. Teens who wish to participate also do not require parental consent.
Individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 30; experiencing stress, worry, and mild-to-moderate anxiety. You do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to be able to participate.
7. Do I need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in the program?
No, you do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in Y Mind. Participants who are experiencing stress, worry, or mild-to-moderate anxiety can self-refer. Teens ages 13 to 18 do not require parental consent to participate.
8. Where is Y Mind offered in QC?
Y Mind is offered at participating YMCA locations and by our community partners across Montreal. To reduce barriers to accessing this support, Y Mind is also offered virtually! If you would like to know when and where our upcoming Y Mind groups are taking place, please email us at libere.ta.tete@ymcaquebec.org or fill out our inquiry form.
9. What are the Y Mind facilitators like?
All Y Mind facilitators have a Master’s or Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Social Work and are experienced in youth mental health, as well as in facilitating groups. Our facilitators are understanding, caring, and supportive. Many have their own experiences of navigating anxiety, so they understand that attending a group like Y Mind is often a big and brave step. Our facilitators are there to explain the Y Mind concepts, facilitate connections with your peers, and support you throughout the program.
10. What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful mindfulness-based therapy which currently leads the field in terms of research, application, and results.
ACT gets its name from one of its core messages: to accept what is out of your personal control, while committing to action that will improve your quality of life.
The aim of ACT is to help people create a rich, full, and meaningful life while effectively handling the pain and stress that life inevitably brings. ACT (pronounced as the word “act” and not as the initials) does this by:
- Teaching you skills to deal with anxious thoughts and feelings effectively—in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness skills.);
- Helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you (I.E., your values), and then use that knowledge to guide, inspire, and motivate you to change your life for the better.