The digital world and how it affects our youth is just one of the focuses of a mental health youth symposium to be held this week.

Anglophone East Community Engagement Coordinator Heather Stordy says parents can learn more about online risks and how to keep our youth safe.

Guest speakers will help youth to navigate the digital world. RCMP members and the YMCA will also speak about how to help youth with social media.

“We know how social media is affecting all of us. So it’s a really great opportunity that they’re going to bring to us in this session. We know that youth are very acclimatized to the digital world. We often find that as adults and parents, we’re not really understanding the spaces they’re in. So it’s an opportunity to educate parents, parents and youth.”

Stordy says this event was held in the past but stopped in 2019.  This year they decided to bring it back. “It’s an opportunity for us to engage with the community and offer the information we find very valuable with our community resources. There will be booths with community resources around mental health. There will be an opportunity for youth to network with high school youth, and there will be a parent session as well,” Stordy adds.

The Mental Health Youth Symposium is a free event being held from 6 pm until 8 pm on May 9 at Harrison Trimble High School.