YMCA’s Y Mind mental wellness program has been under a national spotlight in recent months, allowing it to reach young Canadians on a wider scale—including at the Bettie Allard YMCA.

The Canadian indie pop band Walk off the Earth, known for their unique covers, teamed up with YMCA Canada to create a modern version of the “Y.M.C.A.” song originally recorded by the Village People. This fun reimagining of the 1970s anthem still encourages listeners to “make your way to the YMCA,” but with updated lyrics focusing on the importance of mental wellness. The song, released at the end of August—and its accompanying music video, with over 340,000 views—is spreading awareness among youth nationwide.

The song’s release came after the launch of the nationwide expansion of Y Mind, the YMCA’s mental wellness program that began in Vancouver and flourished into a vital resource for British Columbians.

Y Mind is now available at two-dozen Y locations across the country, including our Bettie Allard and Robert Lee YMCA centres of community, offering early intervention and coping strategies for teens and young adults up to age 30 struggling with stress and anxiety. Meanwhile, the adapted Mind Medicine program offers Y Mind in partnership with Indigenous-serving organizations, developed specifically for youth in their communities.

The Y Mind expansion was made possible by a $7-million injection from the Public Health Agency of Canada, a testament to the program’s impact. Ongoing support for the program was continued by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in BC, which recently pledged an additional $3 million over the next three years.

“We’re impacting 600 youth per year within British Columbia,” said Samantha Hartley-Folz, YMCA BC VP, Community Programs. These government investments allow us to extend the program’s reach and ensure Y Mind continues its vital work over the next few years. It’s a remarkable journey from Y Mind’s 2015 humble beginnings at the Robert Lee YMCA, with just $5,000 in donor seed funding.

Yet, as we celebrate these achievements, we acknowledge that there is still room for growth. Y Mind Adult, for those aged 31 and up, faces limitations due to funding constraints, and donor support can help bridge the gap.

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t also recognize the visionary support of you, our What Really Matters Capital Campaign donors. Your investment in the Y has not only built physical structures to house important programs like Y Mind—it has also laid a foundation for well-being and resilience in our communities.

“We are so lucky to have these beautiful centres of community to bring people together to see they aren’t alone in the struggles to find community. Youth in the Tri-Cities can now attend Y Mind at the new Bettie Allard YMCA,” said Hartley-Folz.

Together, we are enabling everyone in our communities to have equitable access to healthier outcomes. We invite you to continue amplifying our joint impact by sharing the reimagined Y Mind anthem through your networks.