Mental Wellness Makes a World of Difference

Meet Michelle.

Michelle regularly visits the Downtown Y. She has struggled with anxiety in the past and recently completed Y Mind; a mental wellness program for teens and youth. She says Y Mind has made a world of difference for her and she’s grateful for the support from the Y staff and the learnings she gained from the program.

“For the longest time I let my mental health get really bad,” said Michelle. Before participating in Y Mind, Michelle had high levels of anxiety and experienced panic attacks almost daily. A community agency suggested she try Y Mind. During the seven-week program she learned about tools and techniques to manage her mental health including breathing through the feelings of anxiety and calming her mind. “I’m now able to calm myself before it gets to a full on panic attack. Y Mind really helped me.”

Rebecca Trudeau, Y Mind Program Facilitator and Manager of Mental Health Services at the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg, says she has seen many success stories from the program and loves the impact it can have in peoples’ lives. “I’ve seen so many people gain tremendous confidence and new abilities to manage their mental health,” said Trudeau. I think Y Mind gives participants a strong set of skills to accept their emotions and be willing to make space for them. Michelle says she has also developed meaningful social connections through the Y Mind youth group and they support each other even outside of the Y. “Before the program I was really shy, but now I’m not afraid to talk in front of a group and I’ve even made some friends,” said Michelle.

The Y Mind program is an innovative, youth informed, early intervention program that helps youth manage stress and anxiety. Y Mind helps young people cope with anxiety and improve their sense of well-being by introducing them to evidence-based tools and connecting them with others. Learn more about Y Mind.