The Brantford Youth Council (BYC) hosted its inaugural Youth Mental Health Resource Fair on Friday, December 6, 2024, at the T.B. Costain-SC Johnson Community Centre. The event brought local youth together to explore the mental, physical, and social support services available in their community.
“Through consultations for the 2025-2027 update to the City of Brantford’s Empowering Youth Strategy, we learned that youth feel disempowered in their knowledge about what services are available to support their mental health,” said Taylor Berzins, Community Initiatives Coordinator for the City of Brantford. “This year’s BYC cohort wants to emphasize youth mental health and empower their peers. BYC created this event as a first step towards addressing these issues, especially during the high-stress exam season for post-secondary students and as high school students prepare for the winter break.”
The fair featured 14 organizations providing resources and support, including Brantford Regional Indigenous Support Centre – Friendship Centre (BRISC-FC), Canadian Mental Health Association – Brant Haldimand Norfolk, LGBTQ YouthLine, Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford and many others.
In addition to engaging with resource tables, attendees participated in creative activities like painting tote bags and coloring a community art banner, blending resource-sharing with stress-relief opportunities.
“This event is a starting point for future BYC projects about youth mental health,” said Emily McKnight, leader of BYC’s Communications and Marketing subcommittee. “I’ve connected with services I hadn’t known about before planning this event, and I feel more confident recommending resources to my friends when they need support.”
The event was made possible through a micro-grant from Cannabis and Mental Health, a collaborative initiative led by the Youth Research & Evaluation Exchange, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and Cannabis & Psychosis. The grant supports youth-led projects addressing mental health and substance use.
With youth mental health identified as a priority in the City of Brantford’s Community Safety and Well-being Plan, BYC aims to use this event as a foundation for future initiatives that connect youth with essential services.
“Events like these foster connections and provide youth with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate challenges,” said Berzins. “BYC is already looking ahead to new initiatives that will amplify these efforts.”
The success of the BYC Youth Mental Health Resource Fair highlights the need for spaces that promote dialogue, education, and connection, setting the stage for a stronger and more informed youth community in Brantford.
