Youth on wait lists looking for a big brother or big sister have skyrocketed since the pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic,  Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Moncton had around 70 children in need of a mentor, but that number has climbed to 120.

Associate Director Joline Cyr says that’s close to record numbers, “Mental health needs are increasing and our participants are facing many more adversities. The community, in general, is really seeking the help of programs like Big Brothers,  Big Sisters to meet the needs of these kids that require support.”

Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Moncton is a mentoring agency that has a 50-year legacy.  It looks to build a positive developmental relationship for kids between six and 16 years old with an adult in the community.

For those youth in need of mentors, the average wait is around a year before they get matched.

“Anyone between 18 and 80 years old, that is looking to create a special connection based on fun and intention can get involved,” Cyr says.

She adds these are great kids who may not have a parent to guide them or maybe a family has applied for their child to find a mentor because of a current need.

“In 2020, prior to the pandemic, youth would come to us with an average of four adversities. That means their family could be going through a separation or a divorce or there was maybe instability or abuse in the home, things like that. They may have been dealing with mental health, mental illness, or the loss of someone. Now in 2023, that need has gone up. The average is six adversities now,” Cyr says.

The agency will work with families to support them.  They understand they can’t fix these problematic situations, but mentors can help create a balance.

“Mentors connect with the youth, checking in and asking about how their week is going, how their test went, and finding out what’s coming up in their life. People can show that they care. We are building skills so that they can navigate difficult situations appropriately as the youth move into adulthood,” Cyr adds.