Harrison: Youth resilience starts locally

West Carleton Online is thrilled to welcome new columnist Carp’s Christine Harrison, RP, who will write a column focused on mental health and related issues linked directly to West Carleton. Read her full bio below her column. We have also run in to Harrison over the years in our coverage, and you can find that here.

As a psychotherapist and long-time West Carleton resident, I’ve spent more than 15 years listening to our community’s youth in therapy rooms; at local sports fields; and around kitchen tables.

What I hear echoes what many parents, teachers, and coaches already know: our teens are carrying heavy emotional loads, and they need more than just good intentions; they need support that starts close to home.

West Carleton is a special place. We have the gift of close-knit neighborhoods, natural spaces, and a deeply invested network of parents, educators, and volunteers. But rural teens often face unique mental health challenges: geographic isolation, limited access to services, fewer public transportation options, and in some cases the stigma still associated with seeking help. Add in the growing pressures of social media, academic stress, and a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, and it’s no surprise many young people are struggling to cope.

While professional mental health support is vital, what builds day-to-day resilience often isn’t found in a clinic. It’s built in local mentorship programs, after-school clubs, team sports, music lessons and campfire chats. It’s the coach who listens without judgment, the neighbour who gives them a weekend job and a sense of purpose, the youth event that helps them feel seen.

Programs like Carp ACTIVE, local sports teams, and community anchors like the Carp Fair and the Huntley Community Association provide more than just fun; they offer structure, purpose, and belonging. These organizations bring families together, create youth volunteer opportunities, and offer teens a chance to step into leadership roles and feel truly woven into the fabric of their community.

As someone who has worked in both community-based care and clinical mental health, I truly believe our strongest intervention comes when those two spaces work together. At Focus Forward Therapy Group, we see firsthand how community involvement complements clinical care, giving teens something to care about beyond themselves, and someone who cares about them beyond the crisis.

This is a call to all of us parents, business owners, faith leaders, and neighbors to ask how we can show up for our youth. Whether it’s sponsoring a local team, offering free workshops, or simply starting a conversation about mental health at the dinner table, resilience is something we grow together.

Let’s make sure our young people don’t just survive their teen years but learn to thrive, right here at home.

Christine Harrison is a registered psychotherapist, founder and clinical director of Focus Forward Therapy Group, and a dedicated community leader with more than 15 years of experience serving West Carleton. She previously held a leadership role in mental health programming at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) and currently serves as a director with Carp Health Access, where she works to bridge clinical care with grassroots support. Through her work, Christine has championed accessible, evidence-based therapy and advocated for holistic wellness across rural communities. A committed volunteer, healthcare innovator, and proud mom of three, Christine is passionate about building stronger, more resilient communities through collaboration, compassion, and forward-thinking care.