Our Mission
To provide young Albertans opportunities to learn about trauma and best practices in mental wellness by fostering a community where candid conversations can be had while raising funds to remove the financial burden for young Albertans seeking therapy.
Our Vision
A trauma-informed community that has access to the necessary mental health resources to take control of their mental health and wellness.
About Ignited Minds
Ignited Minds Foundation is a registered charity that exists to enhance young Albertans’ mental wellness. IMF does this via three main avenues:
- Ignited Minds provides subsidized therapy for those in our demographic who cannot afford to pay for the services of a registered psychologist themselves. The financial burden of therapy is a common deterrent for youth and young adults looking for help.
- Ignited Minds connects our clients with therapists who may be a good fit for them given their circumstance, alleviating the stress of navigating this process themselves while easing the access to therapists for youth and young adults.
- Ignited Minds provides educational resources to our demographic through candid storytelling from the perspective of trauma survivors and provides professional perspectives on what trauma is and how it affects the body.
At Ignited Minds, our fundraising endeavours are funneled back into our community to build a trauma-informed, mentally fit society.
Our Impact
Ignited Minds Foundation’s approach is anchored in three pillars: Community, Education, and Health.
- Community – Mental wellness is product of relationships with yourself and others. Family, friends, local organizations and community leaders all play an important role in the mental wellness of our youth. By partnering with local organizations and bringing in trauma-informed experts to enhance the education of trauma and mental health, Ignited Minds exists to foster trauma-informed, mentally fit communities.
- Education – Delivered in the form of banquets, seminars and public speaking engagements though partnerships with local organizations and schools, Ignited Minds believes the foundation for mental wellness is being educated about the best practices of doing so. By providing real-life stories of adversity and insights from experts in varying fields of mental health, Ignited Minds seeks to enhance our youth’s education of trauma and mental wellness.
- Health – At Ignited Minds, we believe mental health and physical health coexist together. Our foundation envisions a healthier lifestyle for our youth by promoting aspects of both physical and mental wellness, contributing to healthy lifestyles and setting youth up to lead healthy, motivated and fulfilling lives.
A Message from Our Founder
The journey to founding Ignited Minds is deeply personal. After experiencing life-changing trauma and navigating the difficult path to mental wellness, our founder, Ryan Vandervlis, learned firsthand the value of supportive communities and accessible mental health care. His story is one of resilience and community, underscoring the mission of Ignited Minds: to ensure every young person has the support they need to overcome life’s toughest challenges.
Ryan’s story is a testament to the power of hope, therapy, and the strength that comes from a community that cares.