Diversifying Discourse: Best Practices for the Effective Engagement of Equity-Deserving Youth in Mental Health Advocacy

Abstract

Contemporary North American mental health organisations often struggle to diversify the discourse informing their programs. Youth-facing institutions may have disproportionately few individuals identifying as low-income, male, Black, or Indigenous among their networks. This paper discusses strategies to close this gap, combining insight from a literature review and interviews with nine young mental health advocates. To attract diverse youth, adult allies are encouraged to grow their institution’s presence in public places that young people already frequent, like local libraries, community hubs, and recreational centres. Organisations should provide in-kind compensation to youth supporters, meet accessibility needs, and extend honoraria. Institutions may invest in equity, diversity, and recruitment training for staff, and write policy safeguarding youth voice across the organisation. Finally, mental health bodies are encouraged to network with educators, lay leaders, and other charitable groups to promote wide-spread social change, and to develop wrap-around support for equity-deserving communities.