Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned in to the max Sydney morning show. I am your host Elliot Pierre, and we're going to start this episode off the same way we start every episode off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million things with your time, and the fact that you spend with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hidden with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:20 Oh, she caught me, loves near listen to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:29 Okay. And we're back. All right. I'm excited about today's guest. A bunch of our guests recently actually had fallen into this category. Somebody I don't know. So I love meeting new people. So, uh, as you guys know, I don't introduce my guests because they can do a better job at that than myself. So, uh, can you please tell everybody at home who you are?
Speaker 3 00:00:46 Sure. So my name is Mary Hayward and I am the youth network manager here in port Macquarie.
Speaker 0 00:00:51 Okay. So what does that mean? Network
Speaker 3 00:00:54 Manager? Yeah, so the youth network is something that's actually fairly new here in our community. So we operate out of the back of Canadian mental health association. Where's that? Um, downtown, like by service Canada kind of behind Cora's there. Okay. So the Canadian mental health association there is right there in the corner, uh, and we operate out of the back, like I said. So basically what the youth network is, is a new kind of system here in Fort McMurray. And that's, my job is to bring it in. Um, I guess it started because there's a lack of a mental health care system in our country. Um, so to bring that down to the community and really collaborate with clinical and nonclinical supports for youth and how they access those and how we can reduce the barriers in them accessing that mental health care.
Speaker 0 00:01:37 Okay. And so what a category, what would categorize you as a youth? What's the age range for that?
Speaker 3 00:01:43 It's pretty large. So 12 to
Speaker 0 00:01:45 24, 12 to 24. If you're 24, you still youth.
Speaker 3 00:01:49 I don't know. I'm 30 sometimes. I still feel like there we
Speaker 0 00:01:51 Go. Okay. That's great. I'm very
Speaker 4 00:01:54 Surprised to hear you say that. Like you don't act like a child
Speaker 0 00:01:56 Consistently. Oh, I'm a child, but I don't think anybody would like classify me as a youth in regards to like on paper.
Speaker 3 00:02:02 Yeah. So the way it comes from is that when you, when you hit 18, all of a sudden you're considered an adult. Okay. But realistically you're not. And so what your S your access to different, um, types of cures, um, switches immensely at 18. So in order, so we did opt to 24, so then we can help them transition into those adult services.
Speaker 0 00:02:24 That's phenomenal. I think that's great. Cause like Tanner is alluding to and not very well alluding. I'm a child and I'm in my late thirties. Um, but like on paper, like I'm an adult, you know what I mean? And I think you just nailed it, like at that weird age range. Yeah. You're considered an adult, but realistically, like you're still a child.
Speaker 3 00:02:43 Yeah. And I mean, 18, I mean, say you're going to like pediatrics now you're going to adult services with people up to 85. Right. So you feel, you can feel really intimidated. Um, so we want to help youth be able to transition into that kind of adult and accessing those adult services.
Speaker 0 00:02:58 Now, what type of services do you offer?
Speaker 3 00:03:00 Um, so a big service that we offer is called system navigation. Um, so we have a system navigator on staff. And so what she does is she would meet with, uh, youth and families when appropriate. Uh, and she would help them with even the basics of like mental health literacy. So what is available in our community. Right. But really keeping the autonomy of the, so when I say that, what I mean is we really want to focus on what the youth wants to wants to focus on. Right, right, right. So, uh, and then getting resources that they feel is most appropriate for them. And then if that resource isn't the most appropriate or then they can come back, we'll have a conversation and try and find something new.
Speaker 0 00:03:37 That's great. So you might not supply all of the services in house, but you're more than equipped to say like, Hey, I know these services, I know the paperwork. I may even know the individual there, let me help you navigate these waters. Because like, sometimes it's not just one, you might be utilizing three different services for
Speaker 3 00:03:53 Exactly. And so helping them, you know, I'm walking that path with them because, you know, as you said, with the paperwork with referral forms, I mean, like, it can be really overwhelming as an adult or youth stroller. Our system navigator will, will help with those pieces. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:04:06 Okay. Cool. And so outside of that service, what else do you guys do?
Speaker 3 00:04:11 Um, so a big thing that we do are, I guess, a big thing about my job is always going to be, you know, reducing the stigma around mental health is going to be important, whether that's us, you know, going to community events, promoting who we are, um, and you know, and what we do and how we can help, uh, a big piece that really helps me with that is I have a youth advisory council. So another big thing about the youth network is we want it to be youth centered and we want to build it with youth and not for youth. Right. Because oftentimes we come in as professionals with these super great ideas and youth are left out of it. And they're just like, no, like not well, um, so it takes a while to build that relationship, you know, with, uh, younger people.
Speaker 3 00:04:52 Uh, but I've had my youth advisory council for a little over a year and a really big thing happened. So they were like, Marin, no offense bought. And I was like, okay, we got to that point. Like, we're there, you know? Cause like, there's that power authority when you're older than someone, or you're seen as a professional and you know, you really want their, um, their input and you want it to be, you know, authentic. And to that point. So I was like, you know, if they're prepared to offend me, like, you know, we've, we've kind of reached it, which is cool. So our youth advisory council, um, they basically have input on everything that we do. They could be like, oh, Hey, we were like, this event is cool. Or like, why don't we try this in the schools? Um, XYZ. Like there's a, a bunch of things that, that's what it was. Uh, yeah. People tell
Speaker 0 00:05:38 Me that's cool. You want to say,
Speaker 4 00:05:40 I just relate to that heart of like not being taken seriously because of my age and actually being able to do things quite seriously.
Speaker 0 00:05:48 Not here though.
Speaker 4 00:05:49 Yeah. It's not here though. Absolutely
Speaker 0 00:05:51 Not. Tyler is not even the youngest employee is
Speaker 4 00:05:53 The exact opposite here. I shut up. So my things don't happen.
Speaker 0 00:05:57 Tanner made the mistake of, uh, when we first started working together, he had some ideas and they were good ideas. I'm like, dude, those are some good ideas. Get to work. And he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, what do you mean? I'm like, Hey, you bring a good idea to table. It's not my idea. Like I like it. I think it'll make a positive impact. Get to work as an out-of-towner is very, uh, selective of the ideas that he tells me. Cause if it's a good idea, Hey, go with it. Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:06:26 Lots of good ideas. But then I'm like, Ooh, that might involve me doing more work. So I'm just not going to pitch that. And I tell him that when he gets mad, because he wants to hear the idea.
Speaker 0 00:06:35 Yeah. So, but yeah, it's good to like, listen to you. Especially if you're trying to communicate with them, I find like, as an adult, you like, oh, well this is how I would broadcast my message, but that's not how they're even willing to receive it. So that's who you're trying to talk to you.
Speaker 3 00:06:49 Yeah. I had some big lessons to learn. Facebook's not cool. Yeah. Instagram is a sort of, sort of Snapchat, but you know, I do have to like as much I have to do a lot of stuff. You know what I mean? Snapchat, Tik TOK is somewhere where I haven't ventured, which I know I've had a lot of pressure, but I'm like, yeah,
Speaker 0 00:07:08 Getting ready for hours of your life to be taken away from you. Once you get on Tik TOK,
Speaker 3 00:07:12 It's a
Speaker 0 00:07:13 Crazy addictive.
Speaker 3 00:07:14 Yeah. But like, am I really the person to make the videos? No.
Speaker 0 00:07:18 You could get your team to make some stuff for you or
Speaker 4 00:07:21 You have a youth
Speaker 0 00:07:22 Council for get them. Like then that's what I would say.
Speaker 4 00:07:25 I've learned this lesson. If they are pitching that idea, you make them do it.
Speaker 0 00:07:31 And it's the Mac city minute. brainchild. Okay. If you want to do it. So, but yeah, certain social media is they like, it's like, I want to social media marketing company and how you use these platforms is completely different than how we use them. And it's fascinating. And so if you don't have them working with and around you, you would have no idea. Like I go into schools when we used to be able to go into schools and I'd say like, okay, kids, how many people in this room have like three, uh, Instagram accounts, like, oh, and then I was like, how many people have five? And like, the hands would still be up. And like the parents and the adults be like, what is going on? And then the youth be like, shot the heck. Oh. But I'm like, yeah, they don't use it. Like our old people use it. Like we think when they're on Snapchat, you're wasting time because we waste time on this app as an adult. But I'm like, they use it as communication tools and they have groups that like, they're able to communicate so much better than we ever could think about. So when they're on there, they're not wasting time. Like we waste time, but no
Speaker 3 00:08:39 Speaking to that, like, so I have like, um, like an Instagram page. Do you thought underscore WB? Uh, no. So I, so I've yeah. I follow a bunch of, uh, youth in our community and like, they are so politically active, like from an adult standpoint, like the person I was when I was 17, like, no, I wasn't politically active. I was like, what's that mean? Stu council
Speaker 3 00:09:06 So these kids are like, oh, they're so active. And like black history month coming up and like promoting mental health and
Speaker 4 00:09:12 Like it's currently black history month.
Speaker 3 00:09:15 And uh, like just, yeah, reducing that stigma and like, you know, reaching out to like their friends and saying it's okay. And I'm like, oh, like crazy. Oh my gosh, Boston was pride for like these like youth that I don't even know.
Speaker 0 00:09:29 So yeah. They're cool. It's good to have him around speaking to youth. One of Tanner's brainchilds, which now turned into a piece of his daily routine is called the Maxine minute. It's his segment? His idea. So he's got some questions for you. I don't know what he's going to ask, so I wish you nothing, but the best luck Tanner hitter with the maxzide Bennett. Oh,
Speaker 4 00:09:46 We use the term a daily routine lightly here. Question number one for you today. What is your favorite part of being able to help youth with their mental health?
Speaker 3 00:09:59 Uh, I think my favorite part is to watch youth succeed in their goals of what their mental health goals are and become more confident and, um, in their, in their daily life
Speaker 4 00:10:13 Question number two, what is the most rewarding part of helping people within, within Fort McMurray four? You
Speaker 3 00:10:22 Asked me again,
Speaker 4 00:10:24 What is the most rewarding part of helping people within Fort McMurray for you?
Speaker 3 00:10:28 Oh my gosh. This community has been through so much and like the fact that they're even able to reach out for that help. And, um, I hate to use the word resilient because you don't always have to be resilient, but the fact that they're reaching out for that help and the way that people work together here in this community, probably because of the tragedies that have happened, you know, fire floods and lots more, uh, is probably, yeah,
Speaker 4 00:10:52 There we go. Question number three. What is one thing you took from your own journey with mental health as a youth that you use to help others in your current job?
Speaker 3 00:11:02 Oh, tough one. Um, I think the most, uh, whew, I think the important piece is being taken seriously, which is kind of already touched upon it's oftentimes, you know, when you're younger, like, oh, you're like you'll grow up or you'll grow out of it or it'll be okay. You don't know anything and you do, you know, you're a person and your reality is your reality. And that has to be taken as, um, as truth there and to help people where they're at
Speaker 4 00:11:30 Question number four, what is something you've learned about yourself from helping the youth within Fort McMurray?
Speaker 3 00:11:39 Um, what is something I've learned about myself that I have a lot to learn? Here you go. I have a lot to learn.
Speaker 4 00:11:48 Yeah. And your final question, what is one thing you think Fort offers youth that they couldn't get in other places?
Speaker 3 00:11:57 Oh gosh, there are so many people that are committed to youth mental health in this community. And sometimes I know it comes off. It's like, you know, we need more mental health resources. And I think every community is like that. But the people that I've met and my colleagues and my community partners are really devoted. And if there's a youth who, you know, if you're experiencing something and you're watching this, uh, you know, either reach out to me or reach out to a trusted adult, because there is so many people on the ground that will do their very best to help the situation that you're in. And those have been your five questions
Speaker 0 00:12:29 And there you go killing the Tanner. Good segments. So my question for you is how long have you been in the community
Speaker 3 00:12:35 For? I've been in the community about two and a half years. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:12:37 So, wow. Okay. So why did you come here? Where did you come from? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:12:44 Okay. Yeah, so I was a bunch of places. So I'm originally from Newfoundland,
Speaker 0 00:12:49 Um,
Speaker 3 00:12:50 The east coast. So like around St. John's Joseph paradise is the place that it's called.
Speaker 0 00:12:54 Okay, cool. I spent a lot of time in the east coast. That's why. Okay, cool.
Speaker 3 00:12:57 Yeah. Um, so yeah, so St John's is super near, um, uh, so I was there and then I was in Manitoba for a little while, and then I was like, back in Newfoundland, then I was in Toronto for a little while and now I'm out here. Uh, but I'd like to think that like every little thing that I did kind of led me to, to where I am. I think everything was a learning experience and trying to figure out like where my niche was. I came to Fort McMurray in the hopes that I'll be honest, I was going south. So I came here with Alberta health services, you know, there are provincial, uh, health. So it's like, okay, you know, I'll put my couple of years and get a little bit a year, a little bit of seniority going down to like Edmonton or Calgary, just coming from Toronto. I'm like, oh, I'm a city girl now. Yeah. Uh, I got here and I was like, oh wow. I'm like, this is the closest I felt to home without being home. And like within just a couple of months, I'm like, no, like I'm not leaving. That's awesome. And like, I have no desire. I mean, to visit. Yeah, of course. I want to go to the mountains and stuff. Yeah. No I'm content. Where are you?
Speaker 0 00:13:56 Very cool. So this position that you find yourself in is it's part of Alberta health services and that's when he first came. Okay. And then, okay. Gotcha. Gotcha.
Speaker 3 00:14:04 So this position I'm in is actually pretty cool. So the government of Alberta is actually funding 11 rural communities to introduce youth hops. I call ours here, um, the youth network, because there is an organization that uses language similar, it's called the hub. Right. So then to have the youth hub, there's a little bit of confusion. Um, so we renamed to the youth network. Um, but yeah, that's, that's what it is. The government of Alberta has. Um, I think it was announced in June, um, $7 million over two years, a youth hub in our province. Very cool. So we got that funding here for it. It was started, I think it started kind of in 2019 and there was, you know, nonprofits, so there's a lapse in funding. Then we got it back for like a few months and now we're set until 23, which
Speaker 0 00:14:51 Is right. Awesome. Well, definitely something needed, especially in today's climate, mental health issues are a thing, right. Like I was just chatting with a friend of mine and her son just, uh, tested positive for COVID young, young guy, like only like 10, 11 years old, but the rest of the family doesn't have it. And so now he's quarantined in his room for the next 10 days and I'm like, oh my God. And like, she's like, yeah, it's but there's going to be some lingering effects that dad does to a kid. And so if they can like have a resource to like chat with and like say, Hey, you know, it's.
Speaker 3 00:15:28 Yeah. And it's been hard to kind of promote ourselves in the community to an extent because of COVID. I mean, the whole, it's just, it's never ending. It's hard. We can't get into schools, but just understand like, no, not placing any blame at schools, climate that we're in, but yeah. Even in situations like that, we're, um, our S even as adults, you can imagine as youth, how weird it feels the first time you were back in a crowd, or like, you know, the first some, like you did this and now like, we're almost like we do like one social thing, or maybe I'm old. I don't know. I do like one social thing a week. And I'm like, Ooh, like, What do you mean? So, so figuring out those new pieces when we do open up is it's going to be very interesting in the mental health world as well. No doubt.
Speaker 0 00:16:09 So how can people find you guys and how can they get in contact?
Speaker 3 00:16:13 Totally. So you can refer a friend if they're open to it or a family member, or you can self-refer. Um, so we try to be as open as possible. So we can, our office is closed, but it is open by request. Okay. Um, so if you want to meet in person it's, you can be in person, our space looks pretty cool. We got like, Hey, mix bean bag chairs. Um, the youth helped me design it. So it's, um, youth designed, uh, and it's a safe space, uh, so we can be there to chat. One-on-one we can do a phone call. We can do zoom. We can do over text, um, how you will contact us either. You can email me at youth hub at dot abb.ca, or you can just DME, uh, youth hub underscore w be on Instagram. We also have a Facebook page has called integrated youth network. Would Buffalo. Um, yeah. And then, so our sisters navigator, who had liked to do a plug for she's the one who would do that. One-on-one her, name's Angela. She's been in our community for a long time. She is super experienced, uh, and she's, she's definitely there to be able to help.
Speaker 0 00:17:16 That's awesome. Yeah. Good. So like, people can definitely get in contact with you all across the board and hopefully in the next, uh, few weeks, months on and so forth, they convinced you to get on tape talk.
Speaker 3 00:17:27 Yeah. Yeah. Now if you do so there's a tick talk, but you can just message there. I can put,
Speaker 0 00:17:35 So you do have the like, just cause you're not creating it
Speaker 3 00:17:39 Creating more.
Speaker 0 00:17:40 Yes. Fantastic.
Speaker 3 00:17:42 Yeah. I'll have to follow up and let you know exact. I just there's so many little handles
Speaker 0 00:17:46 That's okay. No worries. So you guys are on Tik TOK. Well, technically, I suppose, technically get them to make the video.
Speaker 3 00:17:52 I know, but then you say, I'm like, if you use this, not send, like they give me, they volunteer their time to me give their input. It's just not, it's just, you know,
Speaker 4 00:18:02 Well, what you have to realize is that you don't want to be on Tik TOK. You don't want to put your face out there. You don't want to be that voice. This generation is fighting for that chance. They all want to be a YouTube star, Tik, TOK, star, a voice of something. And so they will jump at the opportunity to be a voice for something they're passionate about.
Speaker 3 00:18:25 Thank you, Tanner. You're right? Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:18:27 Real talk, right? Yeah. Thank you.
Speaker 3 00:18:29 I'm taking it back.
Speaker 0 00:18:31 Ask them. It's crazy. When I, uh, cause I used to do a daily blog before I started to do this. And so I had like the vlogging camera, like you have the tripod, the camera, the mic on top. And as soon as I walked into school, like with that gear, the kids would just be like, are you on YouTube? Can I be in your video? And I was just like, uh, no, because you're all under age. And I don't have like signatures, but like all kids. And when I say all it's generic or like it's broad, but the majority of kids want to be on YouTube, want to be on, they want to be like internet famous. That's the thing. So you're going to give them a platform and like it's a legitimate platform to talk on dollars to donuts. They'll be like, yeah, thanks. Okay. So we have a young lady, her name will be going unsaid, but she makes the memes for the maxi morning show. And she's only 12.
Speaker 4 00:19:23 And I like how you said that. Like I would, I don't, I don't know her name. I know who you're talking about.
Speaker 0 00:19:28 I said it for me. I almost let it slip what her name was, but yeah, she's only, she's only 12. Um, and she makes, uh, yeah, the memes before every episode, like leading up to I'm going out, listen, if you ask the kids they'll want to do it. So,
Speaker 4 00:19:44 And it means that the things that she does is significantly better than the adult we had doing it. Significant.
Speaker 0 00:19:52 Yeah. Anyways, listen, um, I got the wash top. That means we've already talked for our allotted amount of time. So time flies. So thank you for coming on. Really do appreciate it. Please feel free if you have any events or anything going on in the future, come back again and again, and again, if you have any, um, colleagues or even part of like your youth like that counsel that you have tell them to come on the show, it'll just help promote the message even more. So no worries. Now, before I cut you loose, though, everybody gets a shameless shout out or plug. So you have the lights, the cameras and the mic, a fun,
Speaker 3 00:20:23 It wasn't ready.
Speaker 0 00:20:25 Uh, shameless, shout to plug anybody. It could be it we've had everything from businesses to moms to husbands.
Speaker 4 00:20:32 You name it to, to somebody shout it out their car. That's right.
Speaker 0 00:20:36 That's right.
Speaker 3 00:20:37 Who am I shouting at? I am shining that Canadian mental health association for all the good work that they do and continue to do in our community and for allowing a B2B part of that day after
Speaker 0 00:20:46 Day. There we go. Great. Shout out. All right. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you so much for tuning in. It does mean the world to me. I hope you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:21:01 I just dies that desk. Another Mac city morning, show Dawn.
Speaker 5 00:21:19 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
