The Northern Outlet is looking to connect youth virtually in a bid to foster their mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new website looks to provide youth ages 13 to 24 with an opportunity to have something to do in virtual ‘bored rooms’, which will host an activity or event for young people to participate in.
According to Algoma Family Services Executive Director Ali Juma, the Northern Outlet is the result of the same multi-agency stakeholder group responsible for the forthcoming Community Wellness Bus project, with both Sault Area Hospital and family services taking the lead. Funding for Northern Outlet was made available through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services through special COVID funding allocated to Algoma Family Services and the Sault Area Hospital, in addition to a Bell Let’s Talk grant.
“What the virtual youth hub will provide is an opportunity for youth to re-engage, to get connected when they might be feeling isolated, to occupy their time where they might not feel like they have something to do,” Juma said.
The Northern Outlet stakeholders point to studies which indicate worsening mental health among youth, a 40 per cent increase in overdose deaths in Ontario and a 400 per cent increase in calls to Kids Help Phone since the onset of the pandemic.
A report by the Centre for Addiction Mental Health released in November 2020 also indicates Ontario youth have been experiencing record levels of suicidal ideation and psychological distress, with one in six youth having serious thoughts of suicide.
“What we do know from a mental health perspective, the mental health of many of our youth has been impacted significantly,” Juma said.
The first ‘bored room’ presentation March 6 features Sault-based singer-songwriter Tianna Legacy beginning at 7 p.m. via the Zoom platform, with the website acting as the portal to the virtual room.
“We’re starting out with one room for the next four weeks, and then we hope to expand that to two rooms and have more activities that are happening in each of these rooms, so that more youth can have an opportunity to connect with other youth around an activity or event,” said Juma. “It’s really designed to give youth a chance to have something to do where they might not have otherwise, because of many of the things that are limited now.”
Northern Outlet coordinators Benjamin St. Pierre and Brenna Tomas will be tasked with developing the calendar of events and recruiting volunteers to keep the site going.
“We’re looking for all types of youth in our community and the Algoma District to bring forth ideas. Their volunteering is essential for this to continue on successfully for them, and engagement through the high school students, really, is going to be a driving factor for this,” said St. Pierre. “We’re excited to collaborate with them and get their input and their ideas for what they want to be a part of and what they want to see, to defeat the boring environment we tend to be in right now.”
Youth and adults interested in volunteering for the Northern Outlet can email thenorthernoutlet@gmail.com. Donations and in-kind contributions can be made by contacting the Algoma Family Services Foundation at foundation@algomafamilyservices.org.
