COVID-19 HUB

Supporting your mental health

While youth across the nation tackle mental health challenges, the pandemic has exacerbated the continued elevated struggles 2SLGBTQ+ youth face. Through the power of youth led storytelling, It Gets Better Canada invites you to engage with our content below in support of unpacking the impact of the pandemic, while empowering you with the resources and tools needed to live authentically.

How to use the Hub

Explore our range of youth led affirming content.
Engage with the content that inspires you.
Wanting to uplift others? Share a piece with someone in your community that could benefit from accessing it.

This resource has been made possible with the financial support of the Canadian Red Cross and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

High School Educators

Invite It Gets Better Canada to support your 2SLGBTQ+ students through our affirming workshops.

Explainer Videos

Explainer: What is Chosen Family

Watch our explainer on what chosen family is and how we can begin to build one.

Chosen Family, Explainer, Self-Help/Care, Videos

Explainer: What does self-care mean

Watch why self-care matters so much for 2SLGTQ+ youth and how to start on your well-being journey.

Explainer, Mental Health, Self-Help/Care, Videos

Explainer: Dealing with having your gender invalidated

This toolkit explores what it means to have your gender invalidated and how you can support yourself in the face of invalidation.

Explainer, Gender Expression, Gender Invalidation, Mental Health, Videos

Write Ups

Cosplay, breakups and finding my truth

Cosplayer Danny shares how the pandemic created the perfect pause for them to reflect and embrace their non-binary identity.

Mental Health, Non-Binary, Self-Help/Care

“When the initial lockdowns happened, I spent more and more time by myself - this meant I was able to try different clothing styles opposed to my usual hoodie and baggy jean combo.”

– Maisyn Justason

Cosplay, breakups and finding my truth

Cosplayer Danny shares how the pandemic created the perfect pause for them to reflect and embrace their non-binary identity.

Mental Health, Non-Binary, Self-Help/Care

Lockdowns and learning my identity

An exploration of how the pandemic led to a time of self-reflection and acceptance towards Maisyn’s Two-Spirit identity.

2Spirit, Indigenous, Mental Health, Self-Help/Care

Advocating inclusive healthcare in rural communities

Advocating inclusive healthcare in Rural communities About – Healthcare can be challenging for 2SLGBTQ+ folks, especially within rural communities. Let’s explore what inclusivity in 2SLGBGTQ+

2Spirit, Indigenous, Mental Health

Roots in the Ground: The love and beauty of Grassroots Trans Resistance

Roots in the Ground: The love and beauty of Grassroots Trans Resistance Queer Trans youth have been fighting for centuries to gain visibility and protections

Transgender

Toolkits

The power of storytelling

This toolkit will guide youth with the fundamental of good storytelling and how to drive advocacy on your platforms through your own storytelling.

Toolkits

Request a workshop for your school

Announcing our exciting workshops designed to provide 2SLGBTQ+ high school students with the tools, knowledge, and connections to navigate their unique paths with confidence and pride.

The power of storytelling

This toolkit will guide youth with the fundamental of good storytelling and how to drive advocacy on your platforms through your own storytelling.

Toolkits

Dealing with having your gender invalidated

This toolkit explores what it means to have your gender invalidated and how you can support yourself in the face of invalidation.

Gender Expression, Gender Invalidation, Mental Health, Toolkits

Recovering From Quarantining with Queerphobic People 101

This toolkit will provide youth with validation, information, and tools for healing through experiences of gender-based violence within their homes or areas of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Black, Gender Expression, Mental Health, Toolkits

Empowering yourself through online communities

A guide to connecting with communities online in a safe and beneficial manner to best support you.

Black, Mental Health, Self-Help/Care, Toolkits

How to start journaling for your self-care

A starting guide to beginning the hobby of journaling and supporting the journey of loving yourself.

Asian/Pacific Islander, Mental Health, Self-Help/Care, Toolkits

Podcasts

About Our Stories, Our Pride

Join Alberta based advocate and podcaster, Kelsey Delamarter (she/her), as she chats alongside three unique perspectives on their experiences with uplifting youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This three episode limited series explores the roles of queer youth, caring adults and an empowering community.

Our Pride Our Stories: Episode 1 on Mental Health with Heather Rowland

Mental Health, Podcasts, Self-Help/Care, Videos

Our Pride Our Stories: Episode 2 on Art Resiliency with Armando Perla

Podcasts, Videos

Our Pride Our Stories: Episode 3 with Julia

Podcasts, Videos

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It Gets Better Canada is an official member of the It Gets Better International Affiliate Network.

IT GETS BETTER and IT GETS BETTER PROJECT are trademarks of Savage Love, LLC, and licensed for use on this website by the It Gets Better Project

Registered Charity Number 750714297 RR0001

IGB-CSA Canada

This website was made possible with the support from It Gets Better Project, a non-profit organization working to uplift, empower, and connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth around the globe.