Dear Friends,

Welcome to the community of mindyourmind.ca! We invite you to meet people just like you, who may be struggling and coping with the challenges in their lives.

This is a place,

• where you can think something new and do something new,
• where you can get what you need to help yourself and help your friends.

This is a place to get unstuck!

In this community you will find everyday heroes, celebrities and musicians sharing their stories, toolbox to help you handle stress and resources when nothing else seems to work.

Take a look around, and take the opportunity to tell us how you cope through tough times. Sharing your experiences may inspire someone to change the course of their lives.

And when you finish taking a look around, tell us what you think. We appreciate the feedback.

Thanks for joining us and come back again soon.

From the crew at mindyourmind! 

"... you really helped me out. I always come here when I'm upset or stressed...thanks so much for putting this site together.. it has saved lives, i am living proof of that."

- Anne, 16

mindyourmind is a non-profit mental health program that engages youth, emerging adults and the professionals who serve them to co-develop reliable and relevant resources. These resources are designed to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and increase access and use of community support, both professional and peer-based. Through the use of active engagement, best practice and technology, mindyourmind inspires youth to reach out, get help and give help.

We provide a platform for young people, their stories, their points of view.

We co-create with youth and young adults.

We go where young people are. We go on social networking sites, on music and gaming sites, wherever youth convene, to share our resources.

We dont expect to always be a destination. We go to them.

We use art, music, video and other creative modalities to engage young people.

We believe in strengthening youth-adult partnerships.

We believe that interaction leads to involvement. Involvement leads to learning. Learning affects change.

mindyourmind was the outgrowth of the Youth Discovery Program, the youth outreach arm of the London Mental Health Crisis Service (LMHCS).  The LMHCS, initially a collaboration of London, Ontario’s two Hospitals (London Health Sciences Centre & St. Joseph’s Health Centre), Family Service Thames Valley and a number of other community based organizations, is currently operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.  In 2001, the Youth Discovery Program began facilitating groups in community based centres including schools, drop-in centres, inpatient, outpatient services and residential facilities. The Youth Discovery Program was created in response to the high suicide rate amongst youth between 16-24 (second highest killer in this group), the scarcity of resources for youth and the reluctance of youth to seek services, primarily because of the stigma attached to mental health disorders. In an effort to extend reach and to maximize on emerging platforms mindyourmind.ca was launched in March 2005.

In June 2006 mindyourmind officially became a program of Family Service Thames Valley. We are funded in part by Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, sponsorship, foundation and grant contributions. Our unique team composition and internal expertise also allows us to generate revenue through digital and mobile app development projects. mindyourmind actively seeks out partnerships with local, provincial and national partners to advance work and learning in the areas of youth mental health, technology and engagement.

For current community partners, sponsorships and donations, click here.

Program Director and Co-Founder

Maria Luisa is the Program Director and Co Founder of mindyourmind. She has a background in Art and Play therapy and over twenty years experience working directly with youth and young adults in various settings. When she's not working she loves hanging out with family and friends in her backyard. Unabashedly, she is a pop junkie and a full fledged Gleek! Favourite life moment… meeting her babies for the first time. Favourite work moment… too many. Best gig ever!

Web Developer

Marc sits in the corner of our big table. He loves bringing lunch and describing, with great detail, how he went about creating it. Marc enjoys frequent trips to the Bulk Barrel, long walks in the mall and reciting Taylor Swift lyrics. He plans on purchasing a car but will continue thinking of the environment and walk to work. Oh and Marc is also our Web Tech Guy and loves working with the mindyourmind team!

Graphic Designer

Michelle has been with mindyourmind since its inception and she can't imagine a more excellent position! We like to refer to Michelle as the Graphics Queen. She loves to collaborate with youth and expand on the creativity they bring. Michelle hates early morning meetings, Times New Roman and diabetes! She loves her laptop and iPhone and will always have one or the other in her hands.

Game Developer

Kyle studied multimedia at the exclusive and prestigious Sterling Business Academy graduating simultaneously with the highest grade and the poorest attendance. To this day, he continues to apply those same standards of dedication and contempt to everything he does. When not rolling his eyes dismissively at co-workers or disappearing for hour-long coffee breaks, Kyle develops games and online tools for mindyourmind and our partners. Favourite activities: Fighting crime and extreme mountaineering

Youth Projects and Volunteer Coordinator

Heather is the Youth Projects and Volunteer Coordinator at mindyourmind and has been working with youth in various community settings for over 15 years. Heather loves being at the beach and watching mindless television – that's what it's there for, right? She loves working with youth because they keep her laughing and keep her young. Favourite trip: Hawaii with our 11 month old! Favourite concert: White Stripes secret show in Arva, Ontario

Content Developer

Diana develops mindyourmind.ca content while terrorizing her co-workers with her whistling (often of Christmas carols and more specifically, Jingle Bells). She has a background in psychology and believes possibilities are endless when you are open to them. She loves coordinating interviews and personal story submissions and, when not at work, loves working out or being anywhere outdoors. Pet peeves include other people sneezing, and bad spelling and grammar!

Prosite Coordinator

Christine's work life has been about supporting people as they work through mental health and life challenges. As a Registered Nurse, she's always been passionate about helping people find their true meaning and believes in carrying hope for people at times when they can't access it themselves. She loves to mentor people and tries everyday to live in the moment.

Web Community Developer

Silence is the Web Community Developer at mindyourmind. He is a kool-kat and well-dressed man, who enjoys waving to people walking by the office. Silence also enjoys afternoon tea parties and food, all kinds of food! He is in a long-term relationship with his Android phone, but will replace "her" when something better comes along. Silence is very involved in the community and is always volunteering for something, he tremendously enjoys diversifying his portfolio.

Curriculum Writer

Andrea studied Fine Art and Education at UWO, and has taught Art, History, and English to students aged 9-19. Mr. G is her teaching guru (Summer Heights High). Andrea enjoys chocolate and music and hanging out with family and friends. She has a silly little baby girl at home who makes her laugh. Andrea tries to read books and make art when she can, as it helps her feel balanced. Andrea writes curriculum for mindyourmind, and LOVES it!

Videographer

Pete is our videographer and loves taking direction.

Content Analyst

Eugenia is mindyourmind’s Community of Practice Coordinator, and loves meeting good people who help youth every day. She lives by the words of our great Leonard Cohen: ”Forget your perfect offering. There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.“ Eugenia has studied fine arts, writing and art therapy. She had enjoyed the paths and the destinations. Happiest moments? Playing sous-chef to her little boy’s ”cooking show“.

Research Assistant

Melissa is the Social Media and Project Coordinator of mindyourmind. She started at mym with the arduous task of collecting dozens of dry, boring reports and ensuring they are put to good use… she succeeded and was promoted to tweeting! Melissa is a library science graduate that has recently taken up geocaching and is a closet gamer.

Alumni

Sharron Co Founder and Education and Training	Sharron believes that we are all made of stardust & light, but sometimes the dust gets the upper hand. She loves her grandchildren & children, her Bouviers, Kinky Friedman, cowboy music, real rock & roll and listening to the music of the celestial spheres. Dancing makes her happy, water & sky make her happy, and not coming in last in a 5K race makes her very happy. Sharron is an Art and Play Therapist living in London, Ontario.
Max	Kerri	Brian	Erin	Francesca
Melissa	Brenda	Jessica	Richard	Rick
Romley	Melissa	Seanda	Myles

A circle and a line...
is emotional and cognitive,
is organic and linear,
is spiritual and scientific,
is active and passive,
is creative and practical,
is a perfect balance,
is a horizon,
is a new day.

Special thanks to Debbie Bento for generating the title for our Youth Ambassador video back in 2004 which inevitably inspired us to call the web site mindyourmind.ca!