Learn to Cope with Stress and Anxiety
Are you experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or stress? Join the YMCA's Y Mind Youth program. It is a FREE seven-week mental wellness program for people ages 18 to 30. It's delivered across BC by YMCAs and our community partners.
Want to learn more or register? Fill out the form below and someone from our team will get back to you soon.
Program Details:
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Free, seven-week program for those experiencing mild-to-moderate stress & anxiety.
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Learn proven coping skills and meet peers who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings.
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Each session is 2.5 hours long and is offered one evening a week, for seven weeks.
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Must be available to attend all seven sessions.
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Attendance at one information session at a YMCA near you is required to sign up.
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Participants receive a free YMCA membership for up to 14 weeks.
WHO
- Ages 18 to 30
- Experiencing stress and mild-to-moderate anxiety
- Residing in B.C.
WHEN
- Length: seven-week program
- Time commitment: 2.5 hours one evening a week for seven weeks
WHERE
- Online via Zoom or in-person, location-dependent
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL
"Before joining Y Mind, anxiety would take over my body and mind all the time. I would overthink everything, create scenarios and worry about the future. I am beyond grateful for Y Mind. I was given tools and coping mechanisms. I feel lighter and more relaxed. I now acknowledge my anxiety, but it does not take over anymore."
- Past Y Mind Youth Participant
The Y Mind B.C. program is also offered to teens ages 13 to 18 as the Y Mind Teen B.C. program.
Frequently Asked Questions about Y Mind Youth
Is the program really free?
Yes! The program is free for participants thanks to our generous funders.
Do I need a YMCA membership to participate in Y Mind?
No! You don't need to be a member to join Y Mind. In fact, Y Mind Teen and Youth participants attending Y Mind at YMCA BC receive a FREE YMCA membership during their participation in Y Mind.
How will Y Mind help me?
Y Mind is a mental wellness group-based program for people experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety, stress, and worry. Perhaps this is your first time seeking help or anxiety is something which is starting to impact your life. Participants of the program learn about stress, worry, anxiety, and ways to cope using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness.
Over 4000 people have attended Y Mind across Canada, and through evaluating the outcomes of the program, we have found that those who come to Y Mind experience a decrease in anxiety and an increase in their well-being.
Is Y Mind a counselling/therapy group?
Y Mind is not a therapy group. It is a space to learn tools and strategies to cope with anxiety and live the life you want to live alongside other people.
What will I be doing in the program and what can I expect?
Each week for seven weeks, you will attend a group session for 2.5 hours, which will have approximately 10 to 12 participants and two program facilitators. You will receive a workbook to help you keep track of your learning, as well as a copy of the book The Happiness Trap, which gives more information on how to use tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In addition to learning ACT, you'll also try the techniques out in the sessions, participate in fun group activities, practice mindfulness, and connect with others in the group.
What are the eligibility requirements to participate in Y Mind Youth?
Individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 30, experiencing stress, worry, and mild-to-moderate anxiety, and residing in British Columbia are eligible to participate in the Y Mind Youth program. You do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate.
Do I need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in the program?
No, you do not need a diagnosis or doctor’s referral to participate in Y Mind. Participants who are experiencing stress, worry, or mild-to-moderate anxiety can self-refer.
Where is Y Mind Youth offered in BC?
Y Mind is offered at YMCA locations and by our community partners across BC. The current YMCA associations that offer Y Mind either in-person or online include YMCA BC in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, Kamloops, and Northern BC; YMCA/YWCA of Vancouver Island; and YMCA of Southern Interior BC. If you live outside of these communities and want to see if Y Mind is available near you, please email us at ymind@bc.ymca.ca or fill out our inquiry form.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful mindfulness-based therapy which currently leads the field in terms of research, application, and results.
ACT gets its name from one of its core messages: to accept what is out of your personal control while committing to action that will improve your quality of life.
The aim of ACT is to help people create a rich, full, and meaningful life while effectively handling the pain and stress that life inevitably brings. ACT (pronounced as the word “act” and not as the initials) does this by:
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Teaching you skills to deal with anxious thoughts and feelings effectively—in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness skills.)
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Helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you (I.E., your values), and then use that knowledge to guide, inspire, and motivate you to change your life for the better.