Pathways to Healing and Thriving: Culturally Responsive Mental Health Programs for Black Youth in Toronto

Black youth face unique challenges stemming from constant exposure to systemic and cultural racism, discrimination, and lack of access to culturally responsive services meeting their needs, which significantly impacts their emotional well-being, career trajectories, and civic engagement. The research project explores the benefits of a culturally responsive program called Catharsis offered by the non-profit organization Generation Chosen, which focuses on supporting Black youth with their mental health, emotional intelligence, and civic engagement. Data was collected between December 2022 and April 2023. Surveys and focus groups were administered to Black youth aged 15 to 20 in Toronto, Canada, who attended programming in the Jane and Finch community known as a racialized under-resourced neighbourhood. Twenty-nine surveys and two focus groups were administered, totalling 55 respondents. Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework was applied to centre the lived experiences of the youth and listen to their concerns and ideas as counter-narratives. Thematic analysis and triangulation of the data indicated that culturally responsive, trauma-informed programming can enhance emotional intelligence and lead to better coping mechanisms to manage stress and cope with systemic barriers. Participants reported improved life skills and mental health by accessing culturally responsive mental health service providers and engaging with staff who had similar lived experiences who modelled vulnerability as a form of strength and maturity. The research contributes to filling in the research gap in the Canadian context around the importance of culturally responsive, trauma-informed programming for Black youth and how it can foster healthy identity development and larger community benefits. Keywords: trauma-informed, mental health, Black youth, culturally responsive, emotional intelligence