Organization Highlight: Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective

The Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective (referred to as the Collective) is a collective impact project that is dedicated to the mental health and well-being of rural Ottawa youth. The Collective consists of 12 partner organizations who collaborate to provide support, resources, and advocacy for young people in rural areas of Ottawa who are struggling with mental health issues. As established in its intended impact statement, the Collective’s goal is that “by 2024, 80% of rural Ottawa youth feel they are getting the mental health support they need or know where to go for help if and when they need to access support."

Ottawa is a unique municipality with 26 rural villages surrounding a large urban-centre. While eighty per cent of the city is made up of rural area, only ten percent of Ottawa’s population lives there. Those rural residents have been historically underserved when it comes to mental health services, particularly so for young people who do not have access to vehicles or public transportation.

The Collective was formed in 2018 to respond to a growing need for mental health support among rural youth in the Ottawa area. At that time, Nicole McKerracher of Osgoode Youth Association recognized that young people in rural areas often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing mental health care, including massive distances to services, cost, long wait times, no rural-based services, and stigma around mental health.

The Collective has since been working to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health in rural Ottawa communities. To inform their efforts, in 2019 the Collective collected information from rural stakeholders about existing resources in rural Ottawa, and in 2021 distributed a survey to rural youth to assess their current mental health status and ask about different ways that community-based organizations could provide support for their age group. This research was then used by the Collective to create a Theory of Change and strategies and develop the Collective’s intended impact statement.

Some of the Collective’s most successful activities include organizing community events and workshops to educate people about mental health, and working with local schools to provide resources and support to students. By increasing awareness and understanding of mental health issues, the Collective hopes to create more supportive and inclusive communities for young people in rural areas.

The Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective is a vital resource for young people in rural areas of Ottawa who are struggling with mental health issues. By raising awareness and reducing stigma around mental health and advocating for better mental health services in rural communities, the Collective is making a real difference in the lives of young people in this area. As we continue to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and work towards creating more inclusive and supportive communities for young people, organizations like the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective are essential to ensuring that no young person is left behind.

Meagan Ann Gordon is the Project Manager for the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective.