Mental Health, Trauma, and Grief

While your program may not be designed to address mental health issues, working with youth requires us to be prepared to support them where they are. It is impossible to know the entirety of experiences young people have had or what circumstances they are currently navigating. Preparing for diverse experiences and personalities allows us to better support young people not only in accessing the program we are facilitating, but potentially as a mechanism for ongoing healing work.

Land itself can be healing for young people, as long as our interactions within the program do not exacerbate pre-existing traumas or mental health challenges. Sometimes behaviors we may see as problematic from a participant (eg. not showing up, not engaging fully, getting angry, etc.) may be due to underlying issues. How we act in those moments can help to build meaningful relationships with youth in which they begin to feel safe.

Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences learning with and spending time on the land. Were there aspects of these experiences that brought you healing? Were there aspects of these experiences where you needed more support to feel safe?

When working with young people, it is important not to assume we know their story, nor should we pressure them to be vulnerable in disclosing more than they feel comfortable. We can however ask participants what they would like us to know in order to respect their boundaries and support their engagement.

For instance, you may wish to include a segment on identifying emotions and responses on an intake form which can include the following questions adapted to your particular community and organization:

• What are your favorite ways to engage? (eg. one-on-one, small group, walking around, large group, sitting in a comfortable place, writing things out, art, watching, etc.)

• How will facilitators know when you need additional support? (eg. retreating, getting distracted or argumentative, body language, asking verbally, etc.)

• If you become upset, what are some ways to de-escalate? (eg. taking a break, talking to someone, having a drink of water, journaling, breathwork, etc.)

• How will facilitators know when you’re enjoying the program? (eg. smiling, talking, watching/listening intently, making relationships, being present, etc.)

• Are there circumstances in your life that may impact your ability to participate? (eg. lack of transportation, food insecurity, social anxiety, mental health concerns, disability, health issues, family responsibilities, bereavement, learning styles, etc.)

  • If yes, are there any supports that can be put into place to help your participation in the program? (eg. one-on-one support, access to transportation services, referral to a mental health practitioner, smaller group engagement, flexible attendance, providing a quiet space, having information ahead of time, written/verbal/visual representation of information etc.)

Engaging in these conversations can signal to participants that you are considering the entirety of their well-being while in the program and also lets them know that you are willing to offer a variety of supports throughout the process. Being together with land can be a powerful way for young people to manage the potentially challenging aspects of their lives, including dealing with grief, processing intergenerational and first-hand trauma, and developing strategies to support mental health. Preparing for the needs of all members of the group allows for each individual to participate as their genuine selves which can result in meaningful relationship building and learning.