The 7th International Conference on Youth Mental Health (IAMYH) was recently held in Vancouver, British Columbia, located within the shared, unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The IAMYH works to improve youth mental health services by advocating for age-appropriate care, fostering international collaboration and engaging young people in systemic change. This year’s conference focused on the theme: “Turning the Tide: Creating a global blueprint for prevention and integrated care in Youth Mental Health”, where Associate Professor Dr. Skye Barbic’s PhD student, Avneet Dhillon was a co-chair of the conference, working in planning, research and coordination to make the conference possible. Avneet took some time to sit down with us in an interview to talk about her role in organizing the conference and the key aspects of engaging with youth in the area of mental health.
How do you think this year’s conference was different from other conferences that you’ve attended? What makes this one unique?
The young people. IAYMH is one of the few conferences that truly embraces inclusivity in its attendees. It is not limited to academics or researchers but welcomes service providers, clinicians, individuals with lived experience, and youth. There were also artists, as well as individuals from the technology and design sector, which you don’t usually see at academic conferences. This year, over 283 young people participated, and many of the speakers and presenters were also youth. It was incredibly refreshing to see their voices centered. As a young person, it reaffirmed my sense of purpose and the reason for doing the work that I do.
As co-chair, what was the most rewarding part of your role in the planning of this event?
Seeing everything come together and being surrounded by the entire planning team was an incredible experience. After meeting almost weekly on Zoom, reviewing abstracts, and coordinating logistics, witnessing it all in person felt surreal. I couldn’t have imagined what 950+ people in one room would look like, and knowing that each person was passionate about youth mental health made it even more meaningful. It was also amazing to finally meet the rest of the team in person, especially since this was a global conference.
What previous experience have you had coordinating conferences and large events? What drew you towards being the co-chair for this conference in particular?
I had no prior experience in planning large events, but among my friends, I’ve always been the go-to organizer—the glue that holds things together. If that counts as experience, then I suppose I’ve been doing this for a while! I was nominated by some members of the executive committee for this role, and I saw it as an incredible opportunity to contribute to something on this scale. More than anything, I was eager to learn from the amazing people already involved in this conference, since 2010. I am grateful to have worked along Eoin Killackey, as my co-chair and the rest of the program committee.
One of the main themes of the conference was bringing youth’s voices to the table, how has the conference helped address this theme?
Youth were involved at every stage, from shaping the program and reviewing abstracts to securing sponsorships and managing setup. Jack.org had an incredible group of young people, and the program committee included many youth, along with numerous young presenters and plenary speakers. A significant number of bursaries were also awarded to support youth participation across the world.
Even with these efforts, the conference remains committed to increasing youth involvement every year. The team behind it, including Dr. Pat Mcgorry and Dr. Barbara Dooley, doesn’t just include youth as a token gesture or checking of a box, they genuinely care and are dedicated to ensuring young people take the lead on stage.
What are the challenges you believe youth mental health faces in today’s world, and how does the conference address those challenges?
That’s a big question, and it’s difficult to pinpoint just one challenge. However, a key issue is the lack of understanding of what it means to be a young person today. This generation is navigating a world vastly different from the previous ones. Facing economic instability, the impact of social media and technology, and the complexities of global crises, all while taking on more responsibilities than ever before. Because of this, young people need more support, and they need it early. Barriers to accessing services remain a major issue, and it’s crucial that those services are designed to meet the needs of youth from all backgrounds and communities.
The conference highlights these well-known challenges, but because it’s a global event, it also brings in intersectional perspectives beyond a high income or western medical lens. Hearing from people in low- and middle-income countries, Indigenous Communities and Elders, various cultural backgrounds provides a broader understanding of what is working and where we need to improve.
And the conference serves as a reminder that mental health care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Just like any other form of healthcare, it should be accessible to everyone.
What impact did this conference have on research in youth mental health? What does the future look like in terms of new youth mental health initiatives in research and clinical practice?
A significant part of the conference is Research Day. Last year, the Lancet released The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health emphasizing more than ever the urgent need for support as young people continue to face increasing challenges. The report gained widespread attention in the news and on social media. This year, the conference aimed to build on that work, exploring pathways to move forward in key areas. The main focus areas for Research Day were:
- Building research capacity leading to a collaborative and thriving field of youth mental health science through sharing learning across High Income and Low-Middle Income Countries.
- Advancing biopsychosocial understanding of processes and interventions in youth mental health.
- Involving young people with lived experience and peer researchers in understanding what works.
- Research to policy and practice translation
Researchers, policymakers, young people, and individuals with lived experience were divided into groups to focus on these areas. We will continue collaborating over the next six months to finalize this work, which will be published alongside the commission and its companion pieces. This collaboration is expected to have a significant impact, both for researchers and the general public.
The future of youth mental health, in my view, will be led by youth themselves. I’ve mentioned this many times before, but youth-led, youth-driven experiences are what truly matter. How can we find solutions for someone without involving them and considering their perspectives? Young people today are eager, accomplished, and have valuable experience to share. This is what I see as the future of this research.
Photo Credits: Images courtesy of Jon Benjamin Photography and Avneet Dhillon.