While playing sports can enhance physical and mental health in youth, injuries can reverse the benefits of athletic activities, says Brock University Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Amanda Black.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysical activity and team sport participation among youth have been shown to increase their self-esteem, life satisfaction, social integration and educational success while decreasing psychological distress,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
All of this growth can be reversed when concussions and other injuries force youth to withdraw from participating in physical activities.<\/p>\n
Injury-prevention strategies \u2014 protective equipment, changes to game rules and regulations and specialized training on movements in games \u2014 already exist, but these and other measures \u201care implemented inconsistently, limiting their impact, and may not take the needs of marginalized youth into account,\u201d Black says.<\/p>\n
Youth from the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, disability and other equity-seeking communities can face barriers to sports as well as health care, she says, and the mental health concerns of marginalized youth are often underreported.<\/p>\n
With support from a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant, which is funded by the Government of Canada, Black is leading a team researching how best to implement injury prevention strategies, manage concussions and address mental health concerns among youth in sport, particularly those from equity-seeking groups.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s a research team with a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re flipping it on its head: instead of the researchers making all of the decisions, it\u2019s going to be the youth,\u201d Black says. \u201cIt\u2019s youth-led, youth-driven from start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
To that end, Black is looking to recruit 10 diverse youth ages 15 to 25 in Niagara to become members of the Niagara Youth Sport Advisory Group.<\/p>\n
Members, who will be paid for participating, need to have a connection to youth sport and have experience with sport-related injuries, concussions or mental health improvements or challenges. Research experience isn\u2019t required.<\/p>\n
Those interested in joining the Youth Sport Advisory Group must complete the application form<\/a> by Saturday, May 31. For more information, view the frequently asked questions<\/a> or email i3lab@brocku.ca<\/a><\/p>\n The advisory group’s members will receive training on subjects such as systemic and structural health inequities within sports, research methods and determinants of health, including the roles of race, gender and class.<\/p>\n They will then branch off to conduct research into programs addressing injuries, concussions or mental health.<\/p>\n \u201cThey choose the area they\u2019d like to work in,\u201d Black says. \u201cThey build the program, they research barriers that prevent implementation and what helps the program to be successful, they refine the program, and they can share their program with coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n Each member will be paired with a researcher who will mentor them throughout the process.<\/p>\n