It’s hard to believe that ten years ago we were involved with Family Service Thames Valley as it took the bold step to incubate mindyourmind, a program that co-creates tools to support youth who are experiencing mental health challenges.  Maria Luisa, together with your team, you have changed the face of how youth access mental health services.  Our community is better because of the work of mindyourmind.

So grateful to have been involved in the next extraordinary iteration.  It was such a creative process as we started with the Summit of over 70 stakeholders including youth, and with them brainstormed possibilities that evolved into this new reality. Now as part of Connex Ontario, mindyourmind is well positioned to serve locally, provincially and nationally.  Shout out to Melissa who now leads mindyourmind, Louise and Brad who made this next step in mindyourmind’s journey possible.  What a great example of social innovation!  ~ Maria

Here is the media release…

Wednesday, April 6, 2016 – London, Ontario

mindyourmind announced today that they will become a hosted program of ConnexOntario Health Services Information. Transferring from its previous home agency, Family Service Thames Valley (FSTV), Melissa Taylor-Gates, mindyourmind Program Manager, views the move as part of the evolution of the organization, vital to their continued work in youth engagement: “Youth are always growing and innovating. As a program that works alongside them to co-create change, our team is embracing this new phase of mindyourmind; one which launches us more firmly into the provincial, national and international landscape.”

mindyourmind is a non-profit mental health program that co-develops reliable and relevant resources for youth, emerging adults, and the professionals who serve them. Funded by the Government of Ontario, ConnexOntario seeks to improve access to alcohol and drug, problem gambling, and mental health services via free and confidential health services information.

FSTV Board Chair, Brian Phillips, states, “It has been an honour hosting mindyourmind at FSTV. We have all been enriched by their work. As a Board, however, we knew that in order for mindyourmind to continue to grow it would need to find a provincial home.”

ConnexOntario Board Chair, Terri Heggum-Allen, said that “The voice, presence, and engagement of youth will make programs at ConnexOntario better. There is huge synergy between our current work and that of mindyourmind, and we look forward to leveraging both of our expertise to serve people in the province better.”

Deb Matthews, MPP, London North Centre, said, “This is wonderful news for mindyourmind. I’m delighted they’ve found a new home for the program to flourish and grow.”

mindyourmind’s new location is the Innovation Works facility in downtown London. Michelle Baldwin, Executive Director of Pillar Nonprofit Network, said, “Innovation Works is connecting to a global social innovation movement, and mindyourmind’s reputation as an innovator reaches far beyond London. We are thrilled to have them on board.”