On October 22, SoundLife Scarborough had the honour of hosting a youth forum for students from eight local secondary schools at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Through this forum, we aimed to help these high school students start dialogues with their fellow peers and teachers on the importance of youth mental health, and provide opportunities for developing connections in and through music-making towards well-being.

Throughout the day, attendees participated in various activities to help them explore the connections between mental health and music, and to dinspire them to create positive changes in their communities.

Some highlights of the event included:

• Student-led discussions on their experiences and thoughts about music and mental health;
• Drum circles led by Negus Medhin;
• Talks given by Tim Lee and Dr. Suzanne Sicchia about the intersections of music and youth mental health;
• Ukulele and dance sessions led by Dr. Roger Mantie and students from MUZB02H3 – Introduction to Music Teaching, Facilitation and Learning;
• Wellness Fair introducing high school students to UTSC campus support groups and Scarborough-based community partners. 

Thank you to everyone who attended, facilitated, and contributed to making this event a success. This Youth Forum will inform our planning for the upcoming cross-sectoral community forum taking place on February 28 and March 1, 2025. We look forward to continuing these conversations!