Medicine Hat College is shining the spotlight on Alivia Rybchinski for her research on mental health issues connected to youth and suicide rates, especially among Indigenous children.--HANDOUT PHOTO
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Alivia Rybchinski has been highlighted by Medicine Hat College under the Student Spotlight Series for her work supporting youth with mental health programs, especially youth in Indigenous communities.
Through her two practicum placements in social service agencies Rybchinski completed as she worked toward her two-year social work diploma, she gained a deepened understand of issues faced by Indigenous youth in Canada and discovered a disturbing connection between mental health issues in youth and the rate of suicide in Indigenous youth.
Rybchinski identified that negative effects of residential schools and intergenerational trauma continue to impact children and youth in Indigenous communities across the country, and began exploring current resources available in some communities that encourage early intervention and prevention.
“Suicide is not a joke,” said Rybchinski. “It is preventable and the lack of resources that our Indigenous communities have to work with is horrible.”
After completing her practicums, Rybchinski strongly believes early intervention could help enhance, and in some cases, save the lives of many Indigenous youth.
She says providing more access to mental health services and creating unique ways to adapt to people’s realistic needs will save lives.
“We need a change,” she adds. “I believe strongly in early intervention, and it was very interesting seeing it be incorporated within communities.
“It is not easy to talk about something that is so heavy … but I felt it was important to spread awareness about this.”
Rybchinski says she wants to continue talking about things that are unspoken and spread awareness to help break the stigma surrounding keeping silent on topics like suicide.
Rybchinski reminds anyone struggling to reach out to the 24/7 Suicide Crisis Helpline by dialing 988.
During her diploma program at MHC, Rybchinski and fellow students explored topics including contemporary Indigenous issues in Canada, developmental psychology, mental health, trauma and addictions as well as social problems and policies.
