Focus Groups

What’s a focus group?

  • One and a half-hour long “rap sessions” for youth ages 12-20.
  • Groups are lead by older youth between the ages of 16-30.
  • The goal is to discuss issues that are important to youth today, and to uncover the impact these issues have on their mental health.
  • Issues such as: what is mental health/illness; what stress you out; how do you cope with stress; and what resources are available to you are some discussion topics.
  • Facilitators do one-on-one follow-ups with any at-risk youth and refer them to clinical back-up when necessary (at risk is based on written response to a questionnaire and participation in the group).
  • Clinical back-up is available on site or by pager during each focus group.
  • Our clinical back-up is provided by Peel Children’s Centre Crisis Response Service and Mobile Crisis of Peel.

Interested…?
This is what YN requires from your site to book a focus group:

  • A contact person at your school/organization
  • One or more groups of 8 to 12 youth aged 12 to 20 years
  • At least two weeks notice of the focus groups date and time
  • One room in the school/centre booked for each group and a private room to conduct follow up meetings

Lincoln M Alexander Focus Group Report 2006 >>
Lincoln M Alexander Focus Group Report 2005 >>