Youth action committee (yac)
The New Mentality works to amplify youth voice on a provincial level to create systemic change in the children and youth mental health system.
Through our provincial Youth Action Committee (YAC), we support young people in identifying major issues facing youth in Ontario who are experiencing mental illness and engage our network and the public to find out how we can solve these complex issues. Following province-wide youth consultations, the YAC works together to report on its findings and generate youth-led policy recommendations to stakeholders responsible for change. Since 2013, the YAC has released four groundbreaking reports addressing the reactive nature of the mental health system, service wait times in Ontario, mental wellness in the school system, and race in the mental health system.
About the Youth Action Committee
The Youth Action Committee (YAC) is a provincial advisory committee, made up of youth aged 16-25 who work to reduce stigma and improve mental health services for children and youth through youth-led policy recommendations. The YAC identifies a major issue youth experiencing mental health difficulties in Ontario are facing and sets out to find out how youth think we can solve these complex issues. Following province-wide youth consultations, the YAC works with Children’s Mental Health Ontario’s (CMHO) policy team to generate youth-led policy recommendations. The committee works together to deliver findings and recommendations to stakeholders responsible for change.
The Youth Action Committee ensures that the voices of youth across the province are acknowledged, respected and taken seriously, driving change within the system and raising a unique and valuable voice.
2024 COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Aditya Thakur, Co-Chair
Biography coming soon!
Alisha Sharma, Co-Chair
Alisha Sharma is a 21-year-old from Burlington, Ontario and a medical student at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about mental health, and both advocates for and represents youth voices within Ontario’s publicly funded mental health system. Creating projects to engage with the provincial youth community to raise awareness, is something that she strives to do. Having been involved with her local New Mentality group of Halton since high school, then moving into the position of a co-facilitator and now to her current position as a co-chair of the YAC, Alisha has worked on a multitude of creative projects. From writing the 2021 provincial youth-led policy paper with CMHO, presenting at the CMHO conference, and running EDI focused events with the committee, she is excited for another year full of new ideas and perspectives.
Madeleine Kubi, Member
Hi! I’m Madeleine (she/her) a 20-year-old student from Brampton, Ontario. I am currently pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science at York University’s Glendon College. I am interested in pursuing a career in policy creation, reformation, and organization auditing upon receiving my degree. My work focuses on improving mental health services for children and youth through collaborative workshops, policy recommendations, and maintaining strong relationships with community partners.
I served as Youth Co-Chair for Every Mind Mental Health Service’s Youth Engagement Committee (the New Mentality group for Peel Region), where I co-develop programs, facilitate workshops and have created policy to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism efforts. My advocacy extends to public speaking, where I have shared my experiences and insights on the mental health system from the perspective of a youth that has been in the system and as a youth who is now working to change it for the better of children and youth through various symposiums and events.
I am committed to driving positive change in mental health services and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and valued in the development of policies and programs. I’m thrilled to be on the YAC and to be a part of the change we all strive to see.
Arpit Sharma, Member
Arpit Sharma is an 18-year-old from Burlington, ON at McMaster University and he is passionate in the advocacy of mental health. He has been involved with The New Mentality since 2019 and then gained the position of Co-Facilitator. He shows intense passion in raising awareness and helping remove barriers for underrepresented racialized individuals in the mental health system. He would like to use his voice to make sure that underrepresented communities are heard and that access to resources is easily accessible to those who need it. Being involved with the Youth Action Committee will help him to make sure that a positive impact is created with the work he does and it will help those who are in need of these resources.
Tayyba Khattak, Member
Tayyba Khattak is a 21-year-old from Scarborough who has been involved with The New Mentality since high school. Through her work with The New Mentality, she has been involved with her local chapter, The Gifts of Our People affinity group, and now the Youth Action Committee. Having helped lead the Gifts of Our People Zine project as a youth, she ispassionate about and continues to help spotlight and uplift underrepresented communities based on lived and shared experiences. She is passionate about furthering the work of the YAC and endeavors to contribute the skills she has developed through her time in the network and her volunteer work to the team this year.
Crystal Ward, Member
Hey friends, My name is Crystal! I use she/they pronouns, I’m 18 and currently located in a small town near Stratford. I have been a part of The New Mentality since November 2020 with my TNM group – New Horizons. This word held me to my career as I am attending Wilfred Laurier University for a BSW in the fall. My intentions with the work I do is to drive change within the mental health system, which ranges from 2SLGBTQ+ work as a queer youth to sharing my experiences within the system to help prevent tough experiences for others in the future. I believe that every voice matters and deserves to be heard, to create a more accepting and safe environment for all within the mental health system!
Other than my volunteer work I’m an avid artist who loves listening to music! I most often use watercolour, digital imaging, and photography when doing art. I listen to all genres of music but I prefer punk rock and pop music! I can’t wait to start this new adventure with this amazing network and beyond with being a part of the YAC of 2024!
Arwen Cooke, Member
Biography coming soon!
Dhara Chauhan
Dhara (she/her) is a 23 year old from Toronto, Ontario who aspires to be a public health professional. She completed her undergraduate studies in Health Studies and Psychology and the University of Toronto. She is passionate about health equity and patient/community engagement. Dhara has served on multiple youth committees and assisted research that aims to improve the experiences and health outcomes of Ontarians. She looks forward to working with her YAC peers and continuing to learn more about effective advocacy to address the challenges youth face when engaging with the mental health system.
Alicia Riccardi, Member
Hey, my name is Ali (She/they)! I am 17 years old and just recently graduated high school. Mental health advocacy has always been a bigthing for me, especially for youth from diverse groups. As someone who struggles with mental health issues on a day-to-day basis, I have a unique experience with the way I have been treated. Everyone has their own stories on how they have been treated and we need to uplift those voices that want to speak up. I believe that all youth should have a say in how the mental health system created for them works an we have a long way to go to get to where everyone has equal access to the mental health services that they need. I am grateful to be a part of the YAC to learn more about other people’s perspectives and create change.
Past Policy Papers
From Crisis to Quality
Provides recommendations to government and service providers to help build a system that is proactive rather than reactive for youth with mental health challenges.
Waiting for Change
Provides recommendations to reduce wait times in Ontario and tips to help youth manage the wait.
Speak Up Speak Out
Provides recommendations to create a better school environment for youth with mental health and addiction challenges.
ADJUSTING THE SPOTLIGHT
Provides recommendations to establish racial equity within mental health services across the province.
Please note that our organization does not directly provide mental health services.
To find a Children’s Mental Health Centre near you, click here.
If you are in a crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
OUR HEADQUARTERS
2305 - 180 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1Z8