Learning and Professional Development Outcomes Among Participants in a National Youth Mental Health Advisory Council

There is a mental health crisis among young people in Canada, suggesting a need for evidence-based, community-engaged strategies to strengthen the youth mental health workforce. This study explores the learning and professional development outcomes of participation in the National Youth Council (NYC) of Kids Help Phone (KHP), Canada’s only “national 24/7, free, confidential, and multilingual e-mental health service, blending technology with the empathy of clinical experts”. We surveyed and conducted focus groups with current and former NYC members to identify professional development outcomes associated with council participation. The results suggest that involvement in the NYC fostered professional skill-building, increased interest in mental health and youth-facing careers, improved civic engagement, and created a sense of empowerment and belonging. Barriers to full participation in youth councils included imposter syndrome, limited regional access to in-person activities, and limited representation from certain geographic areas (e.g., the Territories). These findings highlight the potential of youth advisory councils to support youth professional development, while emphasizing the importance of integrating structured mentorship and equity-focused practices into youth engagement models. NYCs may therefore serve as promising venues for strengthening the future youth mental health workforce.