The Twisted Trauma Foundation has donated $5,000 to BGC Kawarthas (Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes) to support three programs to help youth address their mental health needs and fight the stigma of mental illness and addiction.
Delivered by the Youth Warehouse team at BGC Kawarthas, the three programs — “Flex Your Head,” “Creating Connections,” and “REACH” — will be offered at no cost to youth in local schools, at BGC Kawarthas and through the Youth Outreach Program. Twisted Trauma Foundation’s will support the BGC Kawarthas’ delivery of six full sessions during the 2022-23 school year.
“It is an honour and a privilege for the Twisted Trauma Foundation to fund the programs for youth mental health at the BGC Kawarthas,” says Jon Perrin, who co-founded Twisted Trauma Foundation with his wife Jen, a registered nurse. Jon became a mental health advocate after developing post-traumatic stress disorder in his role as a Kawartha Lakes OPP officer.
Created by BGC Canada, “Flex Your Head” is designed to help youth think about, talk about, and understand issues of mental health and wellness. The program’s goals are to tear down barriers youth face in helping them cope with stress, and to create awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness.
“Creating Connections” is a program designed to enhance addiction awareness among youth, prevent harm associated with substance use, and help reduce harmful stigma while focusing on health promotion.
“REACH” is a program to support children and youth in addressing daily challenges. Outcomes for the program include participants feeling more confident to use skills in a social environment and recognizing how their feelings, emotions and behaviours are connected.
“We are so grateful for Jon’s support as we try to help young people in our community build healthy habits and strengthen their resiliency,” says BGC Kawarthas executive director Amy Terrill.
For more information about BGC Kawarthas, visit www.bgckawarthas.com. For more information about Twisted Trauma Foundation, visit twistedtraumafoundation.com.
