Univers-Shack launches as living lab for youth mental health in Estrie
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In a major step toward reshaping mental health support for youth, Mon Shack… Mes choix… Mon avenir officially launched its Univers-Shack initiative on May 14 in partnership with Bishop’s University and the Université de Sherbrooke. The project, which organizers describe as the first of its kind in the world, is a “living lab” aimed at better understanding and improving the recovery process for young people living with mental illness in supervised housing.
The announcement was made at a press conference held on-site at Mon Shack’s 2.0 location, where founder and executive director Josée Parent spoke alongside numerous political and academic partners, including Saint-François MNA Geneviève Hébert, newly appointed Compton–Stansted MP Marianne Dandurand, and Lennoxville Borough President Claude Charron.
Parent said the Univers-Shack was born from a simple yet powerful question: “Why does it work at Mon Shack?” She cited the surprising outcomes observed among residents, including post-secondary success, stable employment, reduced hospitalizations, and increased community involvement. “There are significant costs associated with repeated psychiatric hospitalization,” she said. “So, we asked—what makes our model work, and how can we document and replicate it?”
According to the official press release issued by Mon Shack, the Univers-Shack will serve as a space for research, development, and innovation. Funded in part by a $25,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), with additional support from the NexCap Foundation and Mon Shack’s own resources, the project will bring together researchers, students, community members, and tenants to co-create solutions to mental health challenges.
