When young people are mentored, everyone wins.

So why aren’t there enough people stepping up to mentor?

In partnership with

MentoringCanada.ca

The data is clear – adults in Canada know how valuable mentoring is and want youth to be mentored.

4/5

adults in Canada believe that mentoring relationships are important for young people growing up…

More than

80%

believe that young people need more mentoring support to maximize their success in adulthood.

Less than

1/3

has stepped up to mentor a young person.

Young adults who were mentored growing up are often better off.

Compared to their non-mentored counterparts, young adults who had access to mentorship are:

53%

more likely to report good or excellent mental health

Over twice as likely to report a very or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their community

59%

more likely to be employed or studying

Use your voice

“When you’re living it, you don’t really recognize that it’s a mentor. You take support and guidance when it comes, and it’s helpful in the moment, but it’s only with time that you see how much it influenced your path.”

– Mentee interview participant

Mentors gain just as much as they give.

Mentoring, at its core, is a reciprocal activity and mentors receive many benefits as well.

Sense of giving back and investing in the next generation

Sense of purpose

Fun and interesting experiences

Broader perspectives and understanding of the world

Increased empathy towards others

Build your mentoring skills

“It’s important to gain experience relating to a younger generation.”

–Mentee interview participant

Mentoring can counteract the loneliness and social isolation that young people and adults experience:

Less than

1/4

young people between the ages of 15 to 24 feel lonely (Statistics Canada, 2021).

People who are lonely report poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction.

Mentoring makes for a unified and resilient Canadian society

4/5

Canadian adults recognize that mentoring improves society.

When young people receive mentoring, society reaps a myriad of benefits, such as:

Improved mental health
Reduced anti-social behaviour or violence
Healthy intergenerational relationships
Stronger communities
Increased connection between social classes and ethnocultural groups
Reduced inequities

“Although the key to building a productive society relies on furthering the well-being of children through mentoring, its inadvertent positive effects on the mentors make it a dual approach to improve community connections. This eventually leads to benefits that spill into all aspects of a thriving town, province, country, and world.”

– Interviewed mentor

The Mentoring Gap:
Youth have repeatedly asked for more mentors and we’re letting them down

About 2M

Young adults grew up without the support of a single mentor.

Over 50%

of the organizations offering mentoring programs are struggling to recruit volunteers and have young people waiting for a mentor.

Youth have requested more mentorship opportunities to help them:

Develop their leadership skills
Succeed in school
Successfully transition into the workforce

Despite all the benefits of mentorship, only a small number of adults volunteer to become mentors.

People across Canada cite many barriers that impede their involvement:

Lack of time

28%

of adults who have never mentored said they don’t have time to do so

Lack of awareness

22%

reported that they’re not aware of opportunities to mentor or don’t know how to get involved in mentorship

Lack of self-confidence

27%

indicated they don’t believe they’re capable of supporting young people and their needs

Embrace a mentoring mindset

“You don’t need to be an ‘end result’ as a role model – you can be someone in the midst of building your career, in early career stages – I was doubtful about that at first.”

– Interviewed mentor

Every action plays a critical role in closing the mentorship gap. What can you do?

Action: Use your voice

Advocate for mentoring by mobilizing your platforms to raise awareness.

Download our easy-to-use social media kit

Action: Build your mentoring skills

You have something to offer and can learn the skills to be a great mentor.

“It’s an eye-opener. As a mentor, you can help your community in this small way. You don’t need to have everything figured out; it’s enough just to be there.

– Interviewed participant

Take Mentor Canada’s Online Orientation for Mentors, where you will learn about the role of the mentor and how to build a positive mentoring relationship.

Take Mentor Canada’s Online Orientation for Mentors

Action: Embrace a mentoring mindset

Be intentional and approach everyday interactions as an opportunity for growth and connection.

Read our tipsheet: Adopting a Mentoring Mindset

Action: Volunteer

Don’t keep young people waiting. Become a mentor and support a young person’s journey.

Browse mentoring opportunities in your community or online that fit your schedule and interests by visiting Mentor Connector - the only national database that connects volunteers and youth to the right mentoring programs.

BecomeAMentor.ca