Amidst the youth mental health crisis, The Nina Project was
formed to help meet the unmet mental health needs of today's youth.
The Nina Project began as a simple question in the summer of
2022 when Nina, who was inspired by their own mental health journey,
asked their mom: “could we make some first aid kits for youth who
self harm?”
This question was the cause of inspiration - one small idea
transformed into something so much bigger.
After gathering some friends and family to help out, that idea
morphed into ‘The Nina Project’, which then became an Alberta
Society that was incorporated in October 2022.
The Nina Project’s First Aid Kits for youth who self harm were
launched in the spring of 2023. Since then, with the help of
donations, our youth advisory committee, and some wonderful folks
around Alberta, we have sent out around 130 of these First Aid Kits,
and receive weekly requests for more.
These kits include first aid supplies, some sensory items, and a
list of resources for additional support. Nina also includes a
personal note in each kit, ensuring the youth who receives the kit
feels seen, heard, and loved. The Nina Project wants all recipients
to know that someone can relate to their struggles, and that there
is a community of caring people who are there for them.
Through our First Aid Kit project, we not only hope to bring
comfort to youth who self harm, but we also hope to raise more
awareness about youth mental health and the barriers that youth face
when struggling with self harm. Some of these barriers to youth
include: a fear of what people will think if they disclose their
struggles, trauma from the act of self harming, not understanding
the reason they are self harming and cannot seem to stop, and
judgement. Many youth will hide their activity from friends and
family because of the shame and guilt that can be associated with
the act of self harm.
One of our goals is to break these barriers down, and to reduce
the stigma around self harm. Every youth who finds our website, sees
us on social media, or gets one of our kits will know that support
exists for them and that they are not alone. This is a beginning
step to healing.
All donations made will help us purchase items for these First
Aid Kits and will support us in raising more awareness about the
youth mental health crisis.
With your help, we can bring comfort to youth who may feel
alone in their struggle with mental health. By showing these youth
that their community cares, we can help them understand that they
are seen, heard and loved.
Thank you for considering supporting this project!
