Event Report: Youth Voices – Shaping Mental Health Services in Ottawa

Coordination RAFIO

5 days ago

3 min read

Event Report

Date: September 28, 2026

Organizer: Incubator13

Activity: “Youth Voices – Shaping Mental Health Services in Ottawa”

Location: Incubator13 – Rideau High School, 815 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Target Audience: Youth aged 13 to 19

Theme: Youth participation, mental health, and improving services in Ottawa

Activity Overview

RAFIO was pleased to participate in the “Youth Voices – Shaping Mental Health Services in Ottawa” event, a gathering dedicated to listening to and engaging young people in discussions about mental health services for children and youth in Ottawa.

The purpose of the activity was to give young people's voices and lived experiences an important role in the development of a new multi-year mental health plan for children and youth.

The meeting aimed to provide young people with experience or lived experience related to mental health services with an opportunity to share their perspectives so that their input could help inform service planning and decision-making.

Participants aged 13 to 19 were invited to reflect on their experiences with the mental health service continuum in Ottawa, ranging from counselling to hospital-based or residential care, including services that are needed but may be less accessible.

Activity Overview and Proceedings

The activity took place on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in an environment that encouraged dialogue, active listening, and meaningful youth participation.

Participants were supported by adults with whom they had already established relationships of trust and were invited to share their experiences and ideas concerning mental health services.

Discussions focused on the following questions:

What are the needs and gaps in mental health treatment for children and youth in Ottawa?
What ideas could help improve mental health services for children and youth in Ottawa?
What other activities would young people like to see organized in the future?

Participants were also encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with the mental health service system and identify changes that could make services more accessible and better suited to the realities of young people.

Discussions on Access to Mental Health Services

Significant attention was given to young people's lived experiences and the barriers they may encounter when seeking mental health support.

The discussions allowed young people to share their perceptions of existing services and reflect on needs that remain unmet.

Conversations also focused on the importance of developing services that take young people's realities into account and make it easier for them to navigate the system when seeking help.

Youth participation highlighted the importance of consulting young people directly when planning or improving services intended for them. This approach also aligns with youth engagement practices used in various mental health initiatives, where young people's experiences and recommendations can contribute to service improvements.

Participation and Feedback

Youth participation was a central component of the activity. Participants had the opportunity to make their voices heard, share their experiences, and propose concrete ideas for improving mental health services in Ottawa.

The participation model fostered an environment in which young people could express themselves while receiving support from an adult with whom they already had an established relationship.

The meeting also helped recognize the value of young people's lived experiences and their ability to contribute actively to discussions about services that affect them.

Participating youth received an honorarium in the form of an Amazon gift card in recognition of the time they dedicated to the activity.

Key Outcomes

The activity helped to:

Place young people's voices at the centre of discussions about mental health;
Gather the experiences and perspectives of youth aged 13 to 19;
Identify certain needs and gaps in existing mental health services;
Give young people an opportunity to propose ideas for improving current services;
Develop a better understanding of young people's experiences as they navigate the service system;
Encourage youth participation in planning services that affect them;
Promote mental health services that are better adapted to young people's realities and needs;
Foster listening, dialogue, and collaboration between young people and the adults involved in service planning;
Recognize young people's lived experiences as an important source of information for guiding decisions and planning.

Conclusion

The “Youth Voices – Shaping Mental Health Services in Ottawa” activity provided an important opportunity to place young people at the centre of discussions about mental health services that directly affect them.

By sharing their experiences, needs, and ideas, participating youth contributed to discussions aimed at improving mental health services and better addressing the realities of children and youth in Ottawa.

This activity reinforces the importance of ensuring that young people are heard and involved in the design of the services intended for them. Their experiences are a valuable source of insight into existing barriers and can help inform solutions that are more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to their needs.