A national movement dedicated to the mental health of Indigenous boys and young men launches today, Aug. 18, aiming to foster more open conversations and encourage young people to seek support.
Led by Kids Help Phone, End The Silence is establishing an annual recognition day focused on the mental-health needs of Indigenous boys and young men.
The initiative seeks to raise awareness of the challenges this group faces while promoting greater research and the development of culturally informed resources.
“Despite these shocking statistics, only 16% of Indigenous people who reached out to Kids Help Phone’s crisis response service identified as male,” said Deanna Dunham, director of Indigenous Initiatives at Kids Help Phone. “It’s time to change that.”
The campaign, developed in partnership with Indigenous communities, highlights available support and reminds Indigenous boys and young men that it is okay to reach out and talk about how they are feeling.
Deanna Dunham, Director of Indigenous Initiatives with Kids Help Phone, spoke with CFWE about why End The Silence campaign is important.
Organizers encourage young people to take the first step toward seeking help.
The website, EndTheSilence.com offers culturally grounded mental-health resources created specifically for Indigenous boys and young men.
The movement is also supported by Indigenous men including The Halluci Nation, Notorious Cree, Michael Linklater and Joey Stylez, who are sharing their personal stories and messages’
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