CalmConnect

Retooling Y-MIND to Treat Anxiety Among Black Immigrant Youth in Toronto, Canada

In 2022, 1 in 4 youth in Canada had been diagnosed with a mental illness. Black immigrant (born abroad) youth in Canada are particularly at an increased risk of poor mental health such as anxiety conditions with prevalence estimates of 26% reported. This is because these youth are more likely to experience racial discrimination and microaggressions. Early intervention is crucial in order to reduce the severity and impact of anxiety conditions, with clear benefits for racialized and immigrant populations. The government of Canada recognizes this urgent need and has only recently initiated various programs, including the ‘Enhancing community-based health services’ program.

Despite the growing evidence of the effectiveness of task-shifting and community-based mental health care, such approaches targeting black immigrant youth are limited in Canada. Our proposed project aims to address this gap by retooling an already existing intervention, the Y-MIND intervention (developed in Ghana and Zimbabwe) to treat anxiety symptoms among black immigrant youth in Canada. The core components of Y-MIND are problem-solving, behavioral activation, and psychoeducation. It is a 6-session therapy delivered in-person by trained teachers. We will partner with the Toronto Chapter of the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario and its vibrant youth wing to co-create a culturally appropriate low-intensity psychological treatment for anxiety (CalmConnect). This proposed project is a direct response to the government of Canada’s goal of ensuring that youth mental health services are equitable, culturally safe, accessible and in line with the needs of diverse communities.  

Project Team

• Dr. Benedict Weobong (PI, York University)
• Dr. Dzifa Attah (Co-I, University of Ghana) - a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ghana Medical School. Her research focuses on developing psychosocial interventions for trauma and stress-related conditions in women, children, and adolescents. She is the author of Y-MIND.
• Dr. Godfred Boateng (Co-I, York University)
• Dr. Oghenowede Eyawo (Co-I, York University)
• Dr. A.M. Viens (Co-I, York University)
• Dr. Victor Awafo (Community Partner, Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario)
• Ms. Navinder Plaha-Mangat (Psychology Research Assistant, York University)

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