LEVERAGING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH DECISION-MAKING: LESSONS FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION.

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Title: LEVERAGING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH DECISION-MAKING: LESSONS FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION.
Authors: Stringer, Jillian1, Levac, Braeden2, Greer, Katelyn3, Smith, Stacie4, Musa, Ervis2, Comeau, Briana5, Osman, Sam6, Johnston, Kylie7, Wong, Chelsea3, Chopra, Reeti8, Moradkhan, Fatemeh Matin9
Source: Canadian Journal of Action Research. Apr2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p67-95. 29p.
Subject Terms: *Mental health services, *Youth societies & clubs, Employee health promotion, Organizational change, Mental health, Participant observation, Mental health services administration
Abstract: This study explores the use and organizational impact of youth engagement practices within the public Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (YMHSU) sector. This study used a youth participatory action approach, co-led and co-authored by youth researchers, to interview representatives from seven Canadian YMHSU organizations through a social constructivist lens. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and synthesized by a national youth research team. Respondents articulated that meaningful youth engagement necessitates a foundational organizational commitment, the creation of safe and inclusive spaces, the nurturing of authentic relationships, and the provision of diverse opportunities tailored to resonate with the unique needs and perspectives of youth participants. These practices supported organizational innovation, recruitment, retention, goal attainment, and sustainability. Participants shared success stories that illustrated the transformative impact of engagement practices within their organizations. This study highlights the organizational benefits and critical success factors for effective youth engagement in mental health decisionmaking and leverages a youth-centered approach to do so. Youth engagement strategies have the potential to yield significant benefits when implemented with a focus on safety and equity. We propose these strategies can and should be leveraged widely across fields to support organizational effectiveness, workplace mental health promotion, and service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Canadian Journal of Action Research is the property of Canadian Journal of Action Research in Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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DbLabel: Education Research Complete
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  Label: Title
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  Data: LEVERAGING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH DECISION-MAKING: LESSONS FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stringer%2C+Jillian%22">Stringer, Jillian</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Levac%2C+Braeden%22">Levac, Braeden</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greer%2C+Katelyn%22">Greer, Katelyn</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Stacie%22">Smith, Stacie</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Musa%2C+Ervis%22">Musa, Ervis</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Comeau%2C+Briana%22">Comeau, Briana</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Osman%2C+Sam%22">Osman, Sam</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johnston%2C+Kylie%22">Johnston, Kylie</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wong%2C+Chelsea%22">Wong, Chelsea</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chopra%2C+Reeti%22">Chopra, Reeti</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moradkhan%2C+Fatemeh+Matin%22">Moradkhan, Fatemeh Matin</searchLink><relatesTo>9</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Action+Research%22">Canadian Journal of Action Research</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p67-95. 29p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+services%22">Mental health services</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth+societies+%26+clubs%22">Youth societies & clubs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employee+health+promotion%22">Employee health promotion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+change%22">Organizational change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participant+observation%22">Participant observation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health+services+administration%22">Mental health services administration</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study explores the use and organizational impact of youth engagement practices within the public Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (YMHSU) sector. This study used a youth participatory action approach, co-led and co-authored by youth researchers, to interview representatives from seven Canadian YMHSU organizations through a social constructivist lens. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and synthesized by a national youth research team. Respondents articulated that meaningful youth engagement necessitates a foundational organizational commitment, the creation of safe and inclusive spaces, the nurturing of authentic relationships, and the provision of diverse opportunities tailored to resonate with the unique needs and perspectives of youth participants. These practices supported organizational innovation, recruitment, retention, goal attainment, and sustainability. Participants shared success stories that illustrated the transformative impact of engagement practices within their organizations. This study highlights the organizational benefits and critical success factors for effective youth engagement in mental health decisionmaking and leverages a youth-centered approach to do so. Youth engagement strategies have the potential to yield significant benefits when implemented with a focus on safety and equity. We propose these strategies can and should be leveraged widely across fields to support organizational effectiveness, workplace mental health promotion, and service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Canadian Journal of Action Research is the property of Canadian Journal of Action Research in Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 67
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mental health services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Youth societies & clubs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employee health promotion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organizational change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Participant observation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health services administration
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: LEVERAGING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH DECISION-MAKING: LESSONS FOR WORKPLACE HEALTH PROMOTION.
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              Text: Apr2026
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              Y: 2026
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