Partnering for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being: Co-Designing Policy Recommendations and Research Priorities for Manitoba Youth Hubs

The mental health (MH) crisis facing Canadian youth is a public health concern with MH challenges becoming more severe and affecting more youth Also concerning is the emerging evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth MH, which is expected to be felt for years to come. In efforts to identify solutions to the MH crisis and in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which highlights the rights of youth to express their views and participate in matters affecting them, engaging youth in the development of MH policy and research priorities is needed. Youth hubs are the ideal venue to engage youth in these ways as they aim to advance youth MH. The purpose of this youth-centered study is to gather evidence that will inform MH and well-being policies and research priorities at youth hubs in Manitoba (MB). Central to this study is engaging youth in the co-design of policy recommendations and research priorities by providing them with a leadership role in this process. Youth attending MB youth hubs and key stakeholders will be invited to take part in the study. Youth will participate in focus groups and a survey. Youth co-researchers will engage key stakeholders in a series of meetings to move the youth co-designed MH and well-being policy recommendations and research priorities into action. Arts-based methods will be used throughout the course of the study. Short-term, this study will provide important evidence to inform policies and research priorities specific to advancing MH and well-being for youth attending youth hubs in MB. Youth co-researchers will build capacity specific to policy and research development. Future work involves using the findings to advance next steps including undertaking identified policy recommendations and research priorities for MB youth hubs. Long-term, the findings may be used to inform best practices on how to engage youth in policy and research across integrated youth services in Canada.