Day 3 Working Session

On November 29, 2023 a follow up event to the Healing Together Symposium was held with the participation of youth, community members and clinical experts. Wanasah presented the draft model of care for feedback, and further consultation was held in three other areas: involving the family, incorporating spirituality in the model and values and principles.

Feedback on the Draft Model of Care:

Group work can be a space to break the shame and show that mental health is not intimidating.  Participant
There’s a strong need to belong. Gangs work well because they are groups with leaders and foster a sense of belonging. How can we foster that same sense of belonging to keep people engaged in the program? Participant
There needs to be an end to therapy but there also needs to be a place that they can come back to. For example, monthly check ins, mentoring the next group, some way to stay engaged. It can be as simple as a text message. Sometimes they don’t answer…but at least they know you are checking in. Participant
Aftercare is so important. Someone is looking out for you. Someone cares. It’s a lot about the individual, the relationship. Build that into the model, the legacy piece. Participant

Including Spirituality:

Sometimes we want to enforce a certain code or morality within our religious beliefs and at times we get so authoritarian that we drive people away instead of bringing them closer.  It is this hardcore-ness, stubbornness, stiff-neck attitude.  We have to show flexibility otherwise you’re going to push people away and then who’s going to be the next generation? Youth participant
Spirituality and God get pushed in a corner when the trauma becomes the thing that they are instead of the thing they are experiencing. Spirituality connects with everything. It helps dealing with trauma and understanding how it connects with the whole person.  Participant

Involving the Family/Chosen Family:

My job is to help my children feel happy, to educate, and help support them. I want to be included, so that I can help support them, listen to them.  If you are friends with them, they can tell you everything. If you are yelling at them all the time then they won’t tell you anything – they go make friends with other kids and tell everything there, they don’t tell things to mom. Listen to them and what they’re saying to you.  Caregiver
As a parent it can be hard to know how I support my youth, or if there is a behaviour that is uncomfortable – how do I take care of my youth and keep myself safe? Caregiver
A family might feel shame and need reassurance – what did I do to make my child need therapy? Have a separate session with parents with an open time to speak…we can gain reassurance from listening to others. Caregiver
Sometimes the worst responses we get are from our own family. When someone is in trauma – we have to have that empathy. That could be me – how would I want to be treated if that were me? There needs to be knowledge, we need to get acquainted into what those problems are so that we can help the family members know what is going on. Participant
Growing up you have zero boundaries – your family is involved in everything. I think maybe ..teaching us about boundaries would help.  Youth participant