Spaces&Places for Youth Mental Health and Well-being: Exploring the relational spaces and physical places within and around communities reflecting community resilience and that relatedly bolster youth resilience promoting resources for youth mental health and well-being

As noted in UNICEF's report card 1636 and observed by CIHR, despite Canada's high ranking of supportive economic, environmental, and social conditions for youth development, we rank poorly in terms of mental health, happiness, physical health and survival. UNICEF's report card 1737 further notes the disconnect between Canada's natural and economic wealth, and its impact on children's lived environment and their related well-being. These reports are disconcerting, given the evidence demonstrating the importance of contextual resources and related structural and social determinants of health, mental health and well-being. If we truly believe that "When provided with appropriate supports, young people can reach their full potential to the benefit of all Canadians," and our goal is to establish an environment in which "Every young person should be afforded the opportunity to be the best version of themselves"38 we need to be mindful of how physical and social environments support young people's mental health and well-being. Spaces&Places for Youth Mental Health and Well-being responds to this need by working with youth, aged 15-24, in 3 diverse communities of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to understand what contextual factors support their mental health and well-being, and what aspects are absent. Our interdisciplinary team will invite youth who are, for example, new to Canada, identify as 2SLGBTQ+, and African Nova Scotian to work with us as co-researchers. Drawing on the knowledge of these youth, we will support them in informing policy, shaping service delivery, and advocating for the community resources identified as necessary for youth mental health. This work will also form the foundation for project expansion across Atlantic Canada, adding voices and experiences of youth to our knowledge. Similarly, this work will support the expansion of our networks nationally and internationally, informing both local and global youth mental health initiatives.