We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis (Abrams, 2023, Golden et al. 2024; Toronto’s Vital Signs, 2023). Toronto’s Vital Signs Report 2023 notes that 38% of students in grades 7 to 12 in Ontario reported fair or poor mental health in 2021, rising as high as 51% for those in grades 11 and 12 (p. 37); and that “poorer mental health is on the verge of becoming the typical experience for students” (ibid, p. 49). The pandemic has contributed to an “alarming decline in student mental health” (ibid) including psychological distress, suicide ideation, anxiety, and overall poor mental health (ibid). Levels of youth loneliness and isolation have risen since before the pandemic, which may be contributing to the youth mental health crisis (ibid., p. 43). As educators and musicians, we observe daily the impacts of strained and poor mental health on students’ lives and schooling. As researchers, we have had conversations with colleagues in health studies and psychology regarding intersections between our fields in the area of youth mental health. We are also in dialogue with community partners, including local community music organizations, secondary school educators, and local community health centres on connections between arts, health and wellbeing, who are also relaying the same urgent message about declining states of student well-being. Through our focus on Music & Youth Mental Health in 2024-2025, we seek to bring students, educators, musicians and researchers in our community into dialogue, and to provide opportunities for developing connections in and through music-making towards wellbeing. The Youth Forum is one of our first steps in the year towards exploring this important topic.