In their own words: New videos showcase stories about youth mental health

July 4, 2022

In a new digital art project, youth with neurodevelopmental differences share their deeply personal stories about mental health.

Created by members of the youth council at the POND Network, along with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and supported by CHILD-BRIGHT and OBI, this impactful series of videos developed by youth living with neurodevelopmental disorders looks at the challenges and triumphs of accessing and receiving mental health care.

Using art, photos and the voices of those with lived experiences, the videos share incredibly vulnerable and emotional stories of individual mental health experiences through the lenses of young people who also have to navigate conditions such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, OCD, tic disorders, learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, developmental coordination disorder, and related rare genetic syndromes.

It’s an eye-opening realization of how daunting it is for these young people to go about daily life and find the courage to ask for help when it’s needed.

The primary objective of the project was to raise awareness about mental health and cooccurring neurodevelopmental disorders, but also had the goal in mind to shift the way health providers see and treat young people with neurological disorders, and ultimately be better prepared and equipped to support them with compassion, empathy and greater understanding.

WATCH NOW: POND Youth Digital Stories