The new mentality: Youth–adult partnerships in community mental health promotion

•We examined the process of The New Mentality program pilot.•The program involved youth–adult partnerships regarding child and youth mental health.•Findings related to relationships, structure, and learning in youth–adult partnerships.•Cultural differences between youth participation and the mental health system were found.

Youth–adult partnerships (Y-APs) engage young people in meaningful community activity and in the institutions and decisions that affect their lives. The current study is an examination of the process of The New Mentality, a multi-site pilot program intended to mobilize Y-APs to raise community awareness of child and youth mental health, reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, and advocate for a mental health service system that is more responsive to the needs of children and youth. Data were gathered through individual interviews, focus groups, observations, and questionnaires with youth and adult stakeholders at various levels of the project. A number of themes emerged from the data. These included the critical nature of relationships youth experienced, the cultural differences and advocacy opportunities presented in the child and youth mental health system, the program's level of structure, and individual learning and knowledge sharing.