While rhetoric surrounding mental health advocacy and de-stigmatization is constantly progressing, it is integral to prioritize focus on the experiences of marginalized populations within this discussion. With recognition of this importance, we have centred and developed our systems thinking and mapping project on the relationship, or lack-thereof, that youth who are impacted by low-income circumstances have with accessing mental health care.  

Delving into this complex systems issue, we conducted our research with the aim of furthering our understanding of the systems and models that perpetuate inequities for youth who struggle with their mental wellness. Our research highlights the most prominent points, which were that of systems in power, lack of initial intervention, lack of accessible literature, and the importance of trust and communication. 

Within research and systems mapping, we explored our topic through an approach of empathy and connectivity, values which we also found to be the most effective in building more accessible mental health systems for low-income youth.