Sean McLean, aged 20, waded through the February snow in Old Montreal as he made his way back to a spot that had long seemed like an additional family residence to him.
He was seated at the front of the room during LOVE Quebec’s alumni reunion event and reflected on how the organization helped him develop and gain confidence throughout his teenage years.
“When you’re young, you experience certain emotions and aren’t sure how to handle them,” stated McLean. “You believe this is typical, but it isn’t, and there’s a solution for it.”
LOVE, which stands for Stop Violence and Encourage Empathy, was established in the mid-1990s with the aim of decreasing youth aggression by fostering empathy and self-assurance among vulnerable young individuals. Their media arts program, referred to as MAP, supports youths in coping with trauma via expressive mediums such as photography, painting, and writing.
Today, in the era of social media, LOVE faces a fresh and expanding challenge: social isolation.
A space for expression
In 2019, McLean became part of MAP and found the program especially crucial during the COVID-19 lockdowns. He describes how his circumstances turned bleak when he had to stay inside, yet he credits the assistance provided by one of LOVE’s counselors as a guiding light through those difficult times, referring to it as “a small star” amidst the darkness.
“Whenever I felt utterly terrible, she would suddenly appear in my direct messages. It made me wonder, ‘How on earth does she manage that?’” he explained.
Trapped indoors during a period when he started delving into his sexuality, McLean found himself swamped by unattainable beauty norms flooding his TikTok stream. This onslaught of content led him to doubt the ideals about physique appearance and self-expression that were being pushed upon him.
“He mentioned, ‘You must conform to a square shape and maintain that form; such were the expectations.’ This imposed significant stress as I was still exploring my identity,” he explained.
When McLean attended art classes in school, he brought the skills he acquired from MAP along with him. He utilized his artistic expression as a means to navigate through internal experiences, conveying his emotions by sketching figures submerged in water or confined within bleak, suffocating environments.
He mentioned, ‘It’s all for show,’ adding that it’s merely what they choose to share online, which doesn’t reflect the real situation.
Empathy encourages growth
Robyn Dalton, who leads LOVE as its executive director, explains that MAP offers a “secure environment” for youths to tackle trauma without the necessity of openly discussing their emotions. While teens might initially join to delve into art, Dalton thinks they continue participating because this setting enables them to confront vulnerability and connect with their sentiments gradually.
Dalton mentioned that a photograph can simply be “just a basic picture,” yet it could also serve as “an extensive exploration of oneself.”
Dalton remembers seeing McLean’s enthusiasm for baking grow via MAP, from the tasks he undertook to the beginning of his journey as a pastry chef — a career he didn’t initially plan, yet felt encouraged to follow after participating in the program.
She explains that these narratives illustrate how the secure environment created by LOVE’s MAP reaches further than just the program, extending into the future endeavors and passions of its graduates.
“That investigation into vulnerability is where they can address these traumas,” Dalton stated.
Holly Recchia, an educational studies professor at Concordia University, points out that although social media offers a feeling of belonging, especially for underrepresented young people, these platforms can also impose detrimental expectations, particularly affecting teenagers as they explore their identities.
She views empathy as a fundamental aspect of enabling teenagers to feel secure in sharing their emotions and forming constructive connections.
She noted that having someone you can depend on to assist you through these challenges, provide validation for your experiences, and ensure you don’t feel judged can truly transform your life.
Going beyond the program
For some teenagers, it might be tempting to dismiss LOVE’s MAP as just another reason to avoid attending class. However, the genuine effort starts when they utilize art as a means to explore and face their feelings.
Initially, John Rennie High School student Chloe Snable participated in the program solely because she saw it as an opportunity to be away from school, hang out with her friends, snack, and take photos.
Gradually, she came to understand that the program provided her with far greater benefits than expected.
In one of their afternoon sessions, pupils from John Rennie had the opportunity to explore macro photography.
Initially conceived as a straightforward artistic activity, this endeavor swiftly evolved into a potent symbol for Snable. It transformed the process of recording minor elements into a method for tackling life’s daunting challenges by dividing them into more digestible pieces.
“I experience significant worry about my well-being,” she stated. “[LOVE] makes a big difference as I feel much calmer and am simply glad to be present.”
The photographs produced by MAP youth adorn the walls at John Rennie for all to view. Each image capturing joyful expressions is complemented by positive statements.
One believes that they draw positive energy and beneficial events into their life. They feel that whatever is destined for them will inevitably arrive.
As someone else puts it, when life seems uncontrollable, focus on what you still can manage.
Dalton mentioned that individuals like Snable aren’t confined to particular locations, and although she wishes the initiative might one day be redundant, the truth is that adolescent mental health issues will keep changing over time.
“We’re genuinely aiming to be a part of the solution,” Dalton stated. “Therefore, what occurs online should merely be an enjoyable activity for them and not have any adverse effects on their mental well-being.”
is a Peruvian photojournalist who earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Following this, they completed the Visual Journalism graduate program at Concordia University. Her interests lie in reporting human interest stories and producing short documentary films.
Hailing originally from Nicosia, Cyprus, she has established herself professionally in the world of dance and obtained her undergraduate degree in this area. Recently, she finished her studies with a graduate diploma in journalism and is currently enrolled in a master’s program focused on journalism where she examines how dance can be used as narrative expression.
He studied political science and philosophy at McGill University prior to obtaining his journalism graduate diploma from Concordia University. Residing in Montreal, he started his journalistic journey as an intern at CityNews, aiming to become a video journalist.
