In Canada, approximately 30 percent of the population is made up of youth. Among this group, about 10 to 20 percent of young people experience a mental illness. Additionally, about 70 percent of mental health issues begin between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. TAY experience a lot of stress because of the different transitions they go through to become an adult. This includes becoming more independent, developing a stronger sense of their identity (who they are) and how it is shared by their relationships and goals, and more. 

Fixing the Cracks is a journalling toolkit meant to be used by young and emerging adults, and help them navigate negative experiences and the process of healing. An ally is anyone who has more power than the person or people they’re working with and uses that power to support and end the oppression they face. In the context of this toolkit, an adult ally is anyone who’s older and is working with and for youth.

Adult allies are often:

• Parents and caregivers
• Mental health professionals
• Educators and school staff
• Coaches or instructors
• Coworkers or employers
• Emergency services members
• Neighbours
• Family friends
• Extended family and other relatives

Inside this book, you can expect to find content on:

• Step One: Acknowledge
• Step Two: Be Honest
• Step Three: Explore
• Step Four: Rebuild
• Step Five: Continue

How Did This Toolkit Come Together

The concept of Fixing the Cracks/Repairing Damaged Relationships began at the 2019 MINDS Convening. This prototype was one of the three that were selected by the collective to be implemented and funded by MINDS. The project came from shared interest between youth and adult allies that some of the practices being used to support youth didn’t engage them in what they wanted from their care providers.

Over the course of the next two years, members of the prototype’s working committee lived this reality and had to challenge expectations time and time again. Through differences and changes in expectations, the working group created a survey aimed to capture the youth’s and adult’s impressions about what constitutes an ally, as well as what an ideal youth-adult ally relationship would look like. Leading up to the development of the survey, MINDS also worked with TAY and adult allies in the community to create a toolkit providing guidelines and steps on how to create a strong and trusting relationship after trust has been broken and also how to navigate the ebbs and flows while mending that trust. What evolved from years of work was a print-on-demand book that can be used by youth and their allies to reflect on how they engage with each other and how they can do better. In addition to an outline of steps to follow, the book includes journaling prompts and resources to support youth and their allies.