Vancouver Community mental health clinicians and nurses connect with youth at annual theatre production

WEBS WE WEAVE, a dramatic arts theatre production, recently ran for four days from April 29 to May 2 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre. The play chronicled eleven teenagers on a merry-go-round of relationships, caught in a complex web of conflict, loss and asexual romance at the strangest 18th birthday party ever. The production delved into the challenges we all face in our relationships along the journey to fulfilling our need for acceptance, belonging and love.

The event also provided the perfect venue for Vancouver Community Child and Youth (C&Y) mental health clinicians and public health nurses to connect directly with youth who may not otherwise have known that community-based health services exist to meet their specific and sometimes complex emotional needs.

As in the past, the theatre piece was written and performed by Vancouver youth under the guidance of project facilitators with incorporated feedback from VCH clinical point person John Libson.

New to the project this year was an art exhibit of work created by Vancouver Child and Youth mental health clients on the themes in the play — relationships, anger, anxiety, etc. The exhibit was coordinated by VCH clinician Sharon Van Volkingburgh.

Child and Youth mental health workers and nurses attended each performance to provide information and outreach to youth and talk about the services available from the Vancouver Community Child and Youth mental health and public health nursing team.

Vancouver Community health professionals who participated in the WEBS WE WEAVE outreach included:
• Curtis Yamada, Youth Concurrent Disorders Counsellor
• Karen Dietz, C&Y Mental Health Clinician
• Aniko Alfaro , C&Y Mental Health Clinician
• Gerry O’Donnell, SACY Youth Engagement
• Jean Fougere, SACY Youth Engagement
• Sharon Van Volkingburgh, C&Y Mental Health Clinician

WEBS WE WEAVE was the latest work from the Some Assembly Theatre Company’s Roundhouse Youth Theatre Action Group Project. The project is now in its 14th year and VCH has consistently served as a key partner. More information is available at www.someassembly.ca.