Creating Neighbourhoods that Support Youth Mental Health
- Sarah Kasleder for SHRF
- 21 minutes ago
- 4 min read
by Sarah Kasleder for SHRF
Dr. Akram Mahani and her team from the University of Regina’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy will be recognized at the 2026 Santé Awards with an Excellence Award from Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF). She is being honoured as the highest-ranked application within SHRF’s 2024-25 Solutions Impact Grant competition for her project, “Key Features of Neighbourhoods that Support Youth Mental Health,” which was co-funded by SHRF, Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation (JPCHF). and Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR).
Through this work, Dr. Mahani and her team are exploring how neighbourhood design can influence youth mental well-being and how young people themselves can help shape environments that foster safety, belonging and connection.
For Dr. Mahani, this project builds on years of community-engaged research that has revealed both the challenges and opportunities facing young people in Saskatchewan. In a province where mental health struggles among young people continue to rise, her work asks an important question:
What if the spaces we create could help prevent those struggles before they begin?
By combining research, art, and community engagement, Dr. Mahani’s team is uncovering new ways in which city planning, policy, and social connection can come together to build healthier, more inclusive communities across Saskatchewan.
Understanding the Need in Saskatchewan
“My interest in this project grew out of two earlier funded studies that deeply shaped my understanding of youth mental health in Saskatchewan,” Dr. Mahani explains. “In a CIHR–SHRF- funded project, I examined The Regina Intersectoral Partnership (TRiP) as a case study and discovered that the majority of youth engaged with TRiP were facing significant mental health challenges.”
She notes that this local reality aligns with broader provincial data.
“A 2019 survey of more than 10,500 Saskatchewan students in Grades 7–12 found that 38% reported symptoms of depression, 23% had considered suicide, and 21% had engaged in self-harm. More recently, the 2023 Saskatchewan Coroner Service report highlighted rising youth suicide rates. Together, these findings point to an urgent need for holistic, community-based responses to youth mental health.”
Dr. Mahani says that while most interventions remain primarily medical, clinical, or pharmaceutical, there is still limited use of non-clinical, community-based, and preventive approaches.
“As a public health scholar, I have long recognized that our external environments—where we live, learn, and connect—profoundly shape our health. Sustainable, cost-effective strategies to promote mental health often lie outside clinical settings. Access to green space, safe public gathering areas, and inclusive neighbourhood design can all foster belonging and resilience,” she says.
Youth Voices and Perspectives
The SHRF-funded project, based in Regina, uses participatory and arts-based research methods, including photovoice and digital storytelling, to explore how youth experience their surroundings. “Arts-based and participatory methods are especially effective in engaging youth,” says Dr. Mahani, “Traditional tools like interviews and surveys often fail to capture the emotional and relational aspects of their lived experiences.”
“When youth see their photos displayed in an exhibit or hear their stories shared and valued, they begin to view themselves as knowledge holders, not just research participants,” she adds. “It fosters confidence, pride, and a sense of belonging.”
Youth are also co-investigators, helping to shape the research process, design art workshops, analyze findings, and share results. “Young people experience their neighbourhoods in ways that adults often cannot fully understand, and their perspectives are essential for identifying what truly supports, or undermines, their mental health,” she notes.
Dr. Mahani says these perspectives highlight the importance of centring youth in research and community planning.
“Mental health is not just about redesigning physical spaces. It’s about understanding and respecting the diverse emotional experiences of young people and empowering them to shape environments where they can truly thrive,” she says.
Collaboration Across Sectors
Dr. Mahani’s research brings together researchers, community organizations, community artists, and policymakers from across the health, municipal, and community sectors. “Integrating diverse perspectives, from youth co-researchers to urban planners, artists, and policymakers, enhances both the depth and impact of our project,” she says.
“Community artists make research tangible and inclusive, allowing youth to express complex emotions creatively, while policymakers ensure that the findings are translated into actionable strategies for urban planning and mental health interventions.”
She highlights the essential role of community artists, including Indigenous collaborators, “They help create inclusive, culturally resonant, and emotionally supportive environments.”
“Incorporating Indigenous perspectives into urban design ensures that neighbourhood spaces reflect Indigenous values, histories, and worldviews, promoting cultural revitalization and supporting the mental health and well-being of Indigenous youth,” she adds.
What Does a Neighbourhood That Supports Mental Health Look Like
Dr. Mahani describes a neighbourhood that supports mental health as “one where youth feel safe, connected, and empowered.” She says that features such as “pedestrian-friendly streets, well-maintained parks, and spaces for social interaction foster a sense of belonging and help reduce isolation.”
“Incorporating cultural and historical contexts into neighbourhood design can strengthen youth identity and pride while creating spaces that truly resonate with their experiences,” she adds.
By actively involving young people in every step of the research process, Dr. Mahani hopes that the project will help reduce the stigma surrounding youth mental health.
"Participatory arts-based methods, such as digital storytelling and creative expression, foster understanding and empathy, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. When youth see their art and stories presented in community spaces, they become visible change-makers.”
“Give Space to Lead”
Although still in its early stages, the project has already gained attention locally and internationally.
“We shared our emerging findings with Saskatchewan urban planners at the SPPI (Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute) conference in early October 2025, and one of our young trainees was featured on the panel,” says Dr. Mahani. “We also presented at the 21st International Conference on Urban Health in New Zealand in November this year.”
Looking forward, she hopes to expand the project to additional neighbourhoods and explore related priorities such as public safety, social cohesion, and culturally responsive design.
“Meaningful youth engagement requires treating young people as full partners, not just research participants,” she says, “When they’re given space to lead, they not only strengthen research—they help create communities where they, and all of us, can thrive.”