Research in the online space: What is important to youth in a mental health app?
Smartphones and devices provide a unique opportunity to make mental health knowledge and support widely accessible, especially among young people. One way to establish the quality of mental health apps is to use an evaluation tool; however, currently widely available tools are either developed by experts or are based on popularity or user rankings.
In 2019, researchers from BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia set out to develop an app rating platform to help youth navigate the vast landscape of available apps. Focus groups were conducted with a total of 47 participants aged 15-24. The results of this study provides a basis of criteria that young people use when they select mental health applications and the relative importance of these criteria.
Conclusions from this study identified specific criteria young people had for app evaluation models. This will help with future development of an app evaluation tool on the foundrybc.ca website that is based on users’ values and priorities.
The following infographic shows the top 10 priorities for young people when using a mobile mental health app.
Standing Together Against Racism and Injustice
We at Foundry Central are deeply disturbed by the recent instances of racialized violence, the killing of George Floyd, and by the ongoing impacts of racial injustice on Indigenous peoples, the Black community, and persons of colour in British Columbia, Canada, the US and around the world.
Racism is deep-rooted in our society and our institutions and is influenced by biases, privileges and a long tragic history of violence and oppression. We recognize that many people in BC face systemic discrimination, unconscious bias, power imbalances and the impacts of colonialism. This results in inequities in access to health care, housing, employment and day-to-day safety.
We acknowledge this. And, we stand with those of you expressing pain, anger and demand for change.
At Foundry, we are committed to listening to and learning from young people, families, and those who are impacted by racial injustice; reflecting on and changing our own practices and behaviours; and supporting systemic reform.
We acknowledge that these events and issues are difficult to process and can bring up overwhelming thoughts and feelings. If you are struggling and need support, foundrybc.ca and our virtual team are here to help you.
Bell Let’s Talk: Networks and Foundry
How Foundry Supports Youth to Find Positive Pathways
New Resources in Punjabi, Simplified and Traditional Chinese
The campaign was developed for and with the South Asian and Chinese Canadian communities in B.C., to help reduce stigma around mental health and addictions, and increase awareness of the services and supports available.
We will not be able to combat stigma alone. Partners like you can help make a difference by promoting this campaign in your community.
Host a Balancing our Minds Summit
Thanks to funding from the Canucks for Kids Fund, BC Children’s Hospital will be supporting communities to plan and deliver youth summits in the 2019/2020 school year.
A Balancing Our Minds Youth Summit is a free one-day event focused on youth mental health, achieving the following goals:
- Increase knowledge about mental health and substance use
- Build awareness of available mental health tools, resources and services
- Increase positive attitudes towards individuals experiencing mental health challenges
- Generate ideas on how to promote mental health and wellness in school communities
Balancing Our Minds Youth Summits are based on the province-wide event Balancing Our Minds held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver from 2014-2016. The event was inspired by the idea that an important first step in changing how mental health is discussed and experienced in our school communities is getting together youth and educators to engage in thoughtful dialogue, education, and idea sharing on how to better promote mental health and wellness.
Changing the Future for Youth at Risk
Our Acting Executive Director Pamela Liversidge had the opportunity to present at Sam Sullivan’s 33rd Public Salon at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre in Vancouver, BC. Alongside other though leaders in the community, Pamela spoke to the innovative work Foundry is doing to transform access to health and social services for young people in BC. She describes Foundry’s network of partnerships as being “one-stop shops” in seven – soon to be 11 – BC communities, and develop online tools and resources at foundrybc.ca.
The Public Salons originated from dinner gatherings hosted by Sam Sullivan and Lynn Zanatta for over a decade. These dinners were attended by up to 10 people from very different walks of life who each spent 5 to 10 minutes speaking about something they were passionate about.
If you missed the event, you could see Pamela’s full talk below.
This article was originally on Sam Sullivan’s Public Salon page.
Movember for Men’s Health
Foundry Celebrates 2 Year Milestone
This month, Foundry celebrated the completion of its two-year proof-of-concept phase with a celebration and knowledge exchange event helped in North Vancouver on June 25-26. With over 150 attendees, including staff, families, and youth from across the Foundry network, key partners, funders, and guest speakers from across Canada, the event was an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments over the past two years and forge ahead into future plans.
The first day concluded with remarks by Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“This is a pathway to hope. We need to get to a place where every person living with mental health issues or addictions has access to care.” Darcy states.
During her remarks, Minister Darcy also announced the two newest communities to join the Foundry network: Terrace and Richmond.
These communities join 11 others that have developed or are developing Foundry centres. Each centre brings together physical and mental health care, substance use supports, social services, and youth and family peer supports, all under one roof to serve youth ages 12-24.
Currently, there are seven Foundry centres across the province, including Kelowna, Vancouver (Granville and North Shore), Prince George, Campbell River, Victoria and Abbotsford with four more underway: Penticton, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, and the newly announced Terrace and Richmond communities.
The event featured a showcase of presentations from representatives from all facets of Foundry, workshops, interactive art installations and speakers from all over Canada such as FRAYME, Embrace Life Council, and Access Open Minds
