You'll get by with a little help from new friends.
Everyone experiences stress, worries and anxieties. The key is to learn how to make sure these don’t get in the way of doing things you care about! With guidance from mindfulness experts and support from others with similar experiences, you can learn healthy coping skills and mindfulness techniques to help get you where you want to go in life.
Y Mind Youth Group is a free 7-week psychoeducational support group for young adults ages 18–30 that provides:
- Online and/or in-person sessions
- A safe, comfortable, welcoming and supportive environment
- Connection with others who have similar experiences
- Guidance and support from mental health practitioners
- Engaging discussions about anxiety and other mental health related topics
- Educational tools from Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidenced-based therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies
- Take-home resources to help manage anxieties in between weekly meetings
- A free YMCA gym membership to allow participants to work on their physical and mental health in one safe space during their time in the program
Attend an info session to learn more.
The next info sessions will take place in Fall 2024.
Click here to register for an info session
We maintain an ongoing interest list for our Y Mind programming. If you are interested in staying connected for future programming, please register using the button above.
Text or call 250-868-7202 or email ymind@ymcasibc.ca if you would like to learn more about our Y Mind Programs.
Eligibility
- Ages 18–30
- Experiencing anxieties, stress, and/or worrying (no formal diagnosis required)
- Ability to attend an information session as well as all 7 group sessions
- Not currently experiencing moderate-severe mental health symptoms or actively in crisis
Crisis Support
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, call 911, go to the emergency room or connect to a BC crisis line by calling 1-888-353-2273. View the CMHA’s support directory for more information.
Funding
Young Adult Mindfulness Groups are part of the Y Mind initiative, which gives teens and young adults the opportunity to join free programs across the province. Y Mind has been developed by the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and is funded through a partnership with the Province of British Columbia.
School, social pressures and extra-curricular activities can all contribute to feelings of worry and stress. That’s why we also offer a mindfulness group especially for teens ages 13–18.
I was struggling in a difficult situation while feeling isolated in a new town and I just couldn’t cope. The YMCA Youth Mindfulness program provided me with a space to let my emotions out and connect with people similar to myself so that I didn’t feel so alone.