Join a tnm group

Welcome to The New Mentality! Joining a TNM Group is a great way to give back to your community all while building new skills and making new friends!

The New Mentality has 20+ TNM Groups across the province that are partnered with child and youth mental health agencies, where youth supported by their adult allies work on projects or activities within their communities to raise awareness of mental illness, eliminate stigma, and improve local mental health services. Projects are developed, designed, and led by youth.

To find a group in your area click here

The Benefits of joining a TNM Group!

  • Become a Changemaker
  • Gain volunteer hours
  • Meet new friends
  • Learn new skills
  • Training and leadership opportunities
  • Personal growth
  • Have your voice heard
  • Join our exclusive DTL retreat

    testimonials

    “TNM has become a part of who I am – something that I am proud of and something that I would never change. It has given me a platform where I can raise my voice to advocate for my community and meet like-minded people who are passionate and persistent. In becoming a changemaker, mastering outreach and activism, I have no doubt that the change we have created and continue to create is going to change the way we think about mental health.”

    -Alisha, TNM Halton

    My life has completely changed because of my involvement with New Mentality. I have a safe space to grow as a person and meet role models and friends who are all as passionate about mental health as I am. The Network has afforded me leadership and training opportunities that I would have never been able to even imagine having the privilege to do! I now know the importance of my voice and how much change it can inspire.

    – Erin, TNM Scarborough

    I have been involved with the New Mentality since Grade 9. Throughout my years volunteering with this organization, I have gained opportunities to help my community and make substantial change through mental health advocacy. This organization allows me to speak with like-minded individuals across the province, and every meeting I learn something new! We contribute ideas and work together to shift the needle for youth mental health, all while having a great time. Being a part of The New Mentality community has played a significant role in my personal growth and development. It has taught me valuable skills that are reflected in both my academics and character.

    – Adiya, TNM Halton

    Goals of a TNM Group

    Decrease the stigma of mental illness and raise awareness of services and supports available for youth experiencing mental health issues
    Increase the frequency and quality of youth engagement opportunities within host agency
    Create opportunities for youth to build leadership skills and learn transferable skills such as facilitation, teamwork, and project management
    Facilitate positive relationships between youth, their peers, and adult allies that allow for personal growth, increased confidence, and a sense of belonging

    What to Expect of a TNM Group

    Being a part of a New Mentality group means being a part of a community! Each TNM Group runs a bit differently, all with the same goal in mind. The true purpose of our groups is to decrease the stigma of mental illness through anti-stigma projects and raise awareness of the services and supports that are available for youth in their communities.

    We want our groups to really be a positive space where youth are given the opportunity to build leadership skills and transferable skills such as facilitation, teamwork and project management. The New Mentality offers many training and leadership opportunities, such as speaking to the government, earning a skill-based certificate (such as safeTALK, or Peer Support Facilitator), becoming a media ambassador and so much more! We want our youth to feel proud and confident and feel a sense of belonging and personal growth while being in a TNM group.

    Our goal with our TNM groups is to overall increase the frequency and quality of youth engagement opportunities within their host agency. Many times, youth work with the host agency to improve services and tell them what it’s like to access services or what it is like to not even access services. Youth have supported their host agency by creating youth-friendly waiting rooms, creating brochures for clients, speaking to the board and ensuring that there is a youth voice at the table and so much more.

    Our Collaborative Approach

    When it comes to the project that our groups work on, it’s truly a collaborative approach where both adult allies and youth work together to create an activity or initiative that will increase knowledge and reduce the stigma of mental health in their community. For example, our groups have created podcasts, hosted coffee houses, created resources for youth transitioning to high school and post-secondary education. We have even had some groups host a puppy yoga event, and created exam de-stress kits!

    Time Commitment

    Our groups meet 1-4 times a month! Groups usually meet weekly or biweekly. Some of our groups meet consistently at the same time and place every month. Others book their dates on the availability of the group. At The New Mentality, we want to ensure that there is a lot of flexibility, as we know our youth are juggling many things!

    OUR HEADQUARTERS

    2305 - 180 Dundas Street West
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1Z8

    About TNM
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    info@thenewmentality.ca