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Y Mind youth participants gather outdoors

 

THE YMCA AND WALK OFF THE EARTH REIMAGINE THE Y.M.C.A. ANTHEM, FOCUSING ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 

The musical collaboration introduces expanded access to  the YMCA’s free youth mental health program, Y Mind   

Greater Vancouver, Kamloops, Northern BC, British Columbia, August 28, 2023 – The YMCA and Canadian indie pop band Walk off the Earth today released a modern take on the Y.M.C.A. anthem to raise awareness of expanded access to the free youth mental health program, Y Mind. Originally released in 1978, the hit song has brought crowds to the dance floor, with an enduring legacy internationally. The reimagined cover of the classic party anthem, performed in a more soulful and sincere tone, brings new light to the original lyrics through a mental health lens as the YMCA aims to highlight today’s need for community and open dialogue surrounding mental health. Alongside the new musical arrangement, Walk off the Earth has also released an accompanying full-length music video now available on YouTube. 

“We’ve seen how music is so connected to emotions – for us and our fans – so we were honoured to take on the challenge of reinventing such an iconic song and give new meaning to its enduring lyrics,” says Sarah Blackwood, lead singer of Walk off the Earth. “When we took a look at the original lyrics, it was staggering how a message about the YMCA from 45 years ago is just as relevant and pointed today - but now we’re sharing that message with a focus on mental health tied to Y Mind.” 

The collaboration aims to bring awareness to a new era YMCA BC hopes to usher in, as our charity continues to provide a broad range of programming, which includes free mental health services through Y Mind, serving the changing needs of Canadian communities.

Y Mind is an innovative early intervention mental health program that helps teens (ages 13-18) and young adults (ages 18-30) cope with stress and anxiety with the support of health professionals. The seven-week program is available online or in person. Y Mind originally launched as part of an Innovation Fund grant in the Greater Vancouver region in 2016. Since then, the program has expanded to other communities and age groups across British Columbia and, for the last year has been available to youth in communities across Canada! The Y Mind program is offered completely free of charge thanks to support and funding by the Public Health Agency of Canada. 

The YMCA offers several programs to support mental health under the Y Mind umbrella, including Y Mind Teen, Y Mind Youth, and Mind Medicine.  

  • Y Mind Teen is a free seven-week mental wellness program for teens ages 13 to 18 who are experiencing symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety or stress.  

  • Y Mind Youth provides support beyond the teen years, with programming geared to those ages 18 to 30. Participants learn evidence-based skills from trained mental health professionals and build community with peers. 

  • Mind Medicine is a free program using the Y Mind curriculum to address the unique needs of Indigenous youth in Canada. Mind Medicine is delivered through partnerships with Indigenous serving organizations. 

“We are proud to offer the Y Mind program here in BC and proud of how much the program has grown since its creation in Vancouver. The number of stressors that today’s youth face can be overwhelming, including the post-pandemic experience, school, and social media pressures. We recognize that cost is often one of the biggest barriers for youth in need of mental wellness programs. Y Mind removes that barrier for youth 13-30 so they can get the help they need for free,” said Heidi Worthington, President & CEO, YMCA BC.   

“Mental health is health, and everyone, including Juno Award winners, like Walk off the Earth, are opening up and having conversations about their mental health. The music lets young people know that it’s okay to not be okay and that there is help available through YMCA’s Y Mind program. Our government continues to be very supportive of this initiative,” says The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. 

The Y Mind program comes at a time when young people’s stress and anxiety levels remain at an all-time high. According to a survey conducted in 2023 by Deloitte, close to half of Gen Zs (46%) and four in 10 Millennials (39%) report feeling stressed or anxious all or most of the time.1 Guided by qualified mental healthcare professionals, participants in the Y Mind program have reported reduced anxiety, improved well-being, and reduced feelings of isolation.  

To learn more about the Y Mind program or find a location near you, visit: 

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About Y Mind
Y Mind was first developed by the YMCA of Greater Vancouver (now YMCA BC) and has been offered across British Columbia since 2018 thanks to financial support from the British Columbia government. Y Mind was born to meet the growing need for free, accessible mental health support. It quickly established itself as a pillar of support for the region’s youth, serving over 3,200 young people in 54 communities. Building on this momentum, the Y Mind program was extended across Canada, including Quebec with YMCA Libère ta tête, through the support of YMCA Canada and YMCA BC. Y Mind has now expanded to 24 YMCAs across the country and is currently being supported though the Public Health Agency of Canada’s investment Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Affected By COVID-19. 

About YMCA BC YMCA BC is the result of the unification of YMCA of Northern BC, Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA and YMCA of Greater Vancouver. As a community-based charity, YMCA BC is committed to fostering belonging and providing people of all ages, stages, backgrounds and abilities with safe and inclusive spaces where they can live healthier lives and connect with others. With hundreds of service locations across the province, children, youth, adults, families and seniors from Fort St. John to the Sunshine Coast can access a wide range of life-enhancing programs, which include employment and training; health, fitness and aquatics; child care; mental wellness; camps; and newcomer services. YMCA BC works collaboratively with the YMCA of Southern Interior BC and YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island to serve British Columbians. For more info, visit gv.ymca.ca, kamloopsy.ca and nbc.ymca.ca.      

For more information:  

Oliver Lam Director, Marketing and Communications, YMCA BC oliver.lam@bc.ymca.ca