Join the Department of Psychology for a joint Developmental and Social Area talk! This area talk will feature Dr. Hasina Samji from SFU's Faculty of Health Sciences. Note: This talk was postponed from November 2024.
Date: Friday March 14, 2025
Time: 2:30 to 4:00pm PST
Location (Hybrid): Halpern Centre Room 126**
This event will be hybrid. If you would like to log in via Zoom, please see below:
https://sfu.zoom.us/j/84379735057?pwd=YoM8GNCfzK8xKE4YpKtooMfnfDG6Rw.1
Title:
Building the Youth Developmental Instrument: a tool to catalyze youth voice and mental wellbeing
Abstract:
Developed by SFU’s Capturing Health and Resilience Trajectories (CHART) lab, the Youth Development Instrument (YDI) is a school-based self-report survey of secondary students designed to identify the resources, opportunities, and practices that contribute to positive youth development. It measures five dimensions: social well-being, social and emotional development, physical and mental well-being, learning environment and engagement, and navigating the world. Since its launch in 2020, over 43,000 youth from 40 BC school districts have participated in the YDI. Survey items are developed in collaboration with the YDI Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a provincial group of ~25 BC youth between the ages of 15-18 years who share their expertise to ensure the survey's relevance and appropriateness, while also supporting knowledge mobilization efforts. The YDI offers an opportunity to hear directly from young people about what matters most to them and what is needed to support their thriving. Results are shared with a range of intersectoral partners —including education, health, policy, and community organizations—to inform decision-making, using a strengths-based approach. For instance, a recent YDI study showed that that positive childhood experiences are associated with greater mental well-being, life satisfaction and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. This talk will share trends over four years of data collection and next steps for the CHART lab in collaborating with school communities to catalyze change for young people.
For any questions about this event, please email Elyse Collyer (elyse_collyer@sfu.ca) or Kristina Castaneto (kristina_castaneto@sfu.ca).
