The COVID pandemic exacerbated the various mental and social determinants of health challenges for individuals, groups, and communities across the globe, including Canadian society. Extreme poverty rates, inequality, and the economic recession have created further inequities for disadvantaged groups regarding social and mental well-being. For example, Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park neighborhoods in Toronto, Ontario, have extreme poverty rates, heterogeneity, mobility of residents, migration, and generational conflict due to migration, which creates social and psychological challenges for residents, especially at a younger age.

The current project builds on successful results from previous studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of mindfulness and holistic healing in improving mental health and reducing tendencies toward substance abuse and other types of addiction, such as addiction to gambling, social media, video games, and more. A key objective of this project is to create a generation of mindfulness youth ambassadors to raise awareness of the role of mindfulness and other healing practices in increasing wellness, improving community mental health, and promoting social integration. As ambassadors, these youth will work with the research team and participating community partners to co-develop mindfulness and holistic healing intervention sessions for youth between the ages of 15 - 18 years old. The mindfulness intervention and manual development topics may include depression, anxiety, academic stress, impulsivity, self-awareness, eating disorders, PTSD, and attitudes toward multiple addictions, such as substance abuse, gambling behavior, and violent video games.