DDO Mental Health Town Hall held by youth council
By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
The Robert-Baldwin Youth Council supported by the MNA for Robert-Baldwin, Brigitte Garceau held a lengthy Town Hall meeting on the future of education and issues of mental health amongst youth at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux civic centre last Saturday. Special guests were Saint-Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy and PCSM case worker and sexologist Carine Dahab. Dahab led attendees in a conversational presentation on general mental health issues affecting young people within the framework of educational institutions. “The aim is to work towards positive and inclusive education,” Dahab said.
An array of issues including the effects of conjugal violence on youth, inclusive education on sexuality affecting the LGBTQ community and persons with physical or mental challenges, young victims of sexual abuse and education on informed consent were discussed. Amongst the dozens of attendees were public officials including Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor Jim Beis and Pointe-Claire mayor Tim Thomas.
Several organizations linked to youth in the West Island Community participated in the discussion including AJOI, Punjabi health and education organization, Community Perspective on Mental Health organization (PCSM), West Island Women’s centre, West Island Mission represented by executive director Suzanne Scarrow and Table de Quartier Ouest de L’Ile (TQSOI).
“What is interesting about today is that everybody was touched in some way about the issues being discussed. When discussing education or mental health — we all relate in some shape or form. We need to reflect on these issues in order to make things better for citizens and youth. This was a thought provoking discussion,” Garceau told The Suburban. Rizqy drove home the point of the historically high drop-out rate for boys as opposed to girls. It’s an issue that has to be addressed and solved, she said, as it is a major factor in young people’s mental health and chances for success.
“We have a long way to go and these discussions stimulate the thought process for plans to make positive changes,” PCSM clinical director Emmanuelle Morin said to The Suburban. n
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