Template = Wellness Posts

BounceBack Design Lab, Fall 2023

What

The mindyourmind team partnered with BounceBack Ontario and six youth from London, ON, who participated in the Design Lab. Over an in-person weekend and followed up by Zoom sessions, youth identified themes in our current culture about how mental health is discussed and effective ways of encouraging youth to reach out for support. Youth learned about BounceBack, created artwork to encourage their fellow youth and talked about why reaching out for support is so important, all culminating in a powerful and artistic Zine.

Why

BounceBack Ontario is a free, confidential program for teens (15-17) that includes videos, workbooks and regular telephone meetings with coaches. Through the program, teens learn about their emotions, thoughts and actions with the goal of reducing stress, sadness and anxiety.

This Design Lab was aimed at brainstorming, discussing and creating a strategy to raise awareness about BounceBack’s resources. The youth identified Zines as a fun and effective way to communicate the benefits of BounceBack to teens across Ontario. They worked hard to create artwork, collages, activities and messages that promote the lessons given in the workbooks.

Who

The mindyourmind team, BounceBack Ontario (particularly Claire!) and a group of 6 amazing youth: Luisanna, Madison, Marina, Rachel, Sarah, and Sid.

The Resource

As a result of the Design Lab process, we created a Zine called Beyond the Surface that acts as a wreck-it journal and activity book highlighting some elements and messages of the BounceBack program. Many of the pages feature artwork created by the youth, and each element was carefully chosen and discussed with the team. The Zine is filled with fun activities and thought-provoking prompts that can help you gain a better understanding of your thoughts, emotions and behaviours. You’ll also have the opportunity to reflect on how you cope and learn effective ways to navigate through different situations that may impact your mood. Additionally, you can discover wellness tips and take on some fun ideas to support you along the way. Overall, the team wanted the zine to be a great peak into the BounceBack program, helping you explore your own self-awareness and personal growth!

Check out BounceBackOntario.ca to learn more about the Zine and how to access the BounceBack program.

Accordions

BiFields Collection

Tips

Tools Links

Gallery

Videos

Audio

Downloads

Youth Partners

Get to know our youth participants a bit more here with these questions they answered;

1. Why did you get involved with this project?

2. One thing that surprised me and/or I learned about myself?

3. How do you hope this resource will help other young people?

Luisanna

1. I got involved because I wanted to help provide teens more options for their mental health and to know that they have an option, it’s free, and that it’s confidential; which I believe a lot of teens need because they may struggle to find a safe person/place to discuss these feelings.

2. I think one thing that surprised me on this project was that this program isn’t more known. I feel like it should, especially if we get to help our community and help them overcome or sort out things that mentally affect them negatively.

3. I hope this resource makes more young people to be more open to talk about their emotions and/or issues without repressing it. That free help is always there and is an option without any judgment.

Madison

1. I got involved with the project because mental health is very important to me and I think it is a very important topic.

2. It surprised me how much I was able to open up and share my ideas. I am usually a quiet person but the environment helped me feel confident to share my ideas. It felt nice to be surrounded by creative and passionate people who encourage creativity.

3. I hope this resource will help someone not feel alone and emphasize the importance of self-care and mental health.

Marina

1. I decided to get involved because I, myself, am a youth who has struggled with mental health in the past, and the chance to help other teens such as myself in such a fun and creative way was an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.

2. One thing that surprised me is how well the whole group worked with each other. We all got along incredibly well and were able to work extremely efficiently because of that. I believe our collaboration made this a truly great experience.

3. I hope that this resource will encourage youths struggling with mental health to take the first steps towards reaching out and helping themselves.

Rachel

1. This project captivated my interest because expanding my understanding of mental health is very important to me. This project allowed me to experience personal growth and self-improvement, aligning with my deep sense of empathy and compassion for individuals who are struggling with mental health challenges. My motivation stems from a genuine desire to enhance the well-being of others and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. As a psychology student at Western University, I am eager to grow my knowledge through my desire to help people improve their mental well-being.

2. Throughout this experience, I’ve observed a significant boost in my confidence regarding my ideas. I am usually very apprehensive about whether my ideas are good enough to be pursued and I assume other people’s creations surpass mine in their value. However, I have come to realize my substantial contribution as a team member. Collaborating with my teammates, I developed creative techniques. I worked very hard to apply my creativity to the objective of the design lab, which ultimately led to a successful outcome.

3. I hope this mental health resource will serve as a valuable and accessible support system for other young people. By providing accurate information, advice and support, it aims to help individuals navigate challenges in their lives. Our resource presents ways to teach youth how to foster resilience and seek help when needed. Our goal is to contribute to the overall well-being of young people by promoting mental health awareness, reducing the stigma and facilitating a supportive environment for those facing mental health challenges.

Sarah

1. I am a business student and thought it would be a learning experience

2. How much fun it was

3. It’s interactive and engaging, and can lead them to the help they need by joining bounce back.

Sid

About Design Labs

This section is all about the work we do with youth in Design Labs. Here, you will find everything about the behind-the-scenes and the young minds that drive innovation and the creation of our mental health tools, resources, and solutions. From start to finish, youth are involved every step of the way!