Grant: Catalyst Grant: Healthy Youth - Promoting Health Equity in Canada's Youth

For many young people in Canada and around the world, the internet and digital technology have become a part of daily life. While the increased connectivity brings many benefits, it can also expose young people particularly racialized youth to online/technology facilitated sexual violence. Racialized youth who face intersecting forms of marginalization are not only at high risk of experiencing online sexual abuse but they also experience more barriers in accessing care. This in turn often brings significant mental health challenges for youth such as intense fear, guilt, depression, and poor coping. Despite the seriousness of these harms, a large portion of Canadian legislation, social services, and education do not provide young people resources for support and safety that they need. It is important that meaningful support is in place to protect young people from sexual and mental harms. Our research aims to respond to this understudied area. The purpose of this project is to engage racialized young people from Alberta and British Columbia to gather data that will inform effective ways to support youth who experience online sexual abuse and its impact on mental health. Using the collaborative research approach, we will: 1) work with youth to identify existing services and programs for racialized youth who experience online sexual abuse; 2) explore the perceptions of youth on barriers and facilitators in accessing and utilizing the services and programs identified; and 3) co-design a supportive strategy with youth and other stakeholders in combination with the existing literature to inform accessible and inclusive sexual and mental health policy and practices. This project will provide racialized youth with a unique opportunity to work with researchers and youth-focused community organizations to recommend relevant and meaningful support in addressing and preventing online sexual abuse and its associated mental health consequences.