Navigating the nuances of parenthood can be akin to a career as an aircraft traffic controller, as the thoughts and options can be dizzying.
When you see your child withdraw from conversation or hang out with a new peer group, could that be cause for concern or just standard fare for a young adult?
When viewed through a clinical lens, that young person may be navigating complex mental health challenges, issues with addiction, depression or feelings around their identity, gender or sexuality. It can be an isolating experience, with limited guidance to help them make sense of who they are, and how they wish to be seen and understood.
Vancouver Island’s Homewood Ravensview treatment facility has recently launched the My Path program, Canada's first and only treatment program developed specifically for young adults aged 19 and over who may be struggling with those very issues among others. An open, tailored and supportive approach is offered for challenges related to PTSD, depression, anxiety, addictions, transition to adulthood, self-esteem and/or sexuality or gender identity concerns.
It’s a program highlighted by a structured support system, an expert-led therapeutic care team and a commitment to creating a safe, inclusive space for exploring mental health concerns and conversations around gender and sexual identity.
“We work really hard to anticipate their needs so that individuals are comfortable right when they arrive,” says Deanna Brady, vice president and general manager of Homewood Ravensview. “They feel cared for, they feel surrounded by things that they enjoy and we create spaces where we've anticipated what they might need while they're here.”
And while those needs inevitably vary from person to person, a recent study from the University of Ottawa underscores the need for intervention with those who are struggling with sexuality and gender identity specifically.
- Transgender and gender diverse people were up to three times more likely to meet the criteria for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and social phobia over a one-year period compared to cisgender people.
- More than half of transgender or gender diverse people in the study had met the criteria for major depression, generalized anxiety or social phobia in their lives.
- Transgender and gender diverse people were three times more likely to report thoughts of suicide and six times more likely to have attempted suicide during their lifetime.
Spread over nine weeks, My Path combines group therapy, one-on-one counselling and a range of therapeutic approaches — including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and recreational and expressive therapies such as art, music and horticultural therapies — to help clients build a strong foundation for recovery and personal growth.
The focal points centre around the complexities of mental health, including identity, self-esteem and social dynamics, helping them build resilience and confidence.
“Simply by virtue of walking through our doors, that's a big step forward towards building their confidence,” Brady says. “We take every opportunity to encourage clients to speak up in groups, use their voices in their individual sessions, share what's going on and talk to people when something is not right.”
A key to the My Path program is the provision of safe and inclusive spaces – whether that’s the physical settings themselves or the therapeutic methods employed, and the group dynamics inspire peer collaboration and foster inclusivity.
“Once you walk through our doors, you're met with five, six or seven other individuals who are going through similar challenges at the same time in their lives,” Brady says. “They can find commonality from someone else's story and say to themselves, ‘I'm not so alone.’”
For more information on the My Path program, visit ravensview.com/who-we-help/young-adults/.
