New poster promotes holistic approach to young women’s health

Primary care and other service providers are being encouraged to take a more holistic approach in their work with young women, thanks to a new poster from CAMH’s VALIDITY project.

Titled “Let’s Talk” and appropriately headlined with “Hear about my world” and “I’m more than what you see,” the poster is a new resource from VALIDITY (Vibrant Action Looking Into Depression In Today’s Young Women), a participatory research project developed by regional staff from CAMH Provincial Services and driven by young women to empower them to share their experiences and contribute to our knowledge of depression.

A newly-launched poster by CAMH’s VALIDITY group provides an important new resource for young women, primary care and other service providers encouraging them to look take a holistic view of young women’s health.

The fact that the program –and the poster- are driven by young women themselves makes it all the more relevant as a tool for service providers, according to Cheryl Vrkljan, Program Consultant with CAMH provincial Services in Hamilton.

“Our aim has always been to develop useful and practical resources, and most especially to keep our focus on encouraging a holistic view of young women’s health,” Cheryl said, adding that many factors, including the social determinants of health, affect the health and well-being of young women.

The poster follows on the guide Hear Me, Understand Me, Support Me developed to explore the many challenges in working with young women to cope with depression and other mental health challenges. Service providers told VALIDITY staff they wanted more information to apply to their work with young women, and it was young women who were consulted in diverse focus groups across Ontario to design the content of the poster.

“We want to encourage service providers to ask young women what’s going in their lives, and to consider how various aspects of their lives might be impacting their health,” said Angela Martella, Program Consultant with CAMH Provincial Services.

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