Community Visionary: Louise Rellis | Anam Rural Youth Association

“These kids need a safety net and I intend to be one for them and get them the support they need.”

When it comes to supporting at-risk youth in rural Alberta, conventional approaches sometimes fall short. When available, traditional counselling services often take place in quiet, structured environments, but many seeking help require a different model — one that meets them where they are, both literally and figuratively.

That alternative approach was exactly what rural Alberta traumatologist, Louise Rellis, had in mind when she started the Anam Rural Youth Association in 2021.

While growing up in Ireland, Louise was fascinated with the idea of helping others. It was an interest inspired by two key influences in her life: an older family friend who spent time travelling every year from Ireland to Moldova to volunteer at an orphanage and her aunt who studied child psychology. “I always thought, ‘When I’m older, I want to be that kind of person,’” says Louise.

Years later, she put those wheels in motion, earning a child psychology diploma while at home with her firstborn child. The experience cemented her calling to help others — a drive that would later guide her toward high-risk youth work.

When her family moved from Ireland to Canada, Louise began her career in Alberta working at the now non-operational Central Alberta Victim and Witness Support Society. “My role at Victim Services is where I found my passion for helping those who have experienced trauma,” she says. “But while working there, I noticed a lot of gaps in the system.”

Louise recalls a young client who, after going through a traumatic experience, became especially attached to her and returned to her office seeking further support. “Our role at that time was to refer our clients to other resources and when I couldn’t personally help that child further in my role, it spurred me to create something different of my own.”

So Louise started the Anam Rural Youth Association with five others who made up the organization’s board. Their goal was to fill some of the critical gaps in rural mental health services with an untraditional approach.

“We don’t have a box for our clients to fit into. We make it as accessible and as barrier-free as possible.”

The heart of Louise’s work is on the road, travelling to over 40 rural communities across Alberta to meet her list of roughly 200 clients aged 13 to 25 where they feel most comfortable. “We don’t have a box for our clients to fit into,” says Louise. “We make it as accessible and as barrier-free as possible.”

This mobile approach removes the burden from parents, who often juggle multiple jobs or transportation barriers, and it places responsibility on the youth and young adults themselves to take ownership of their appointments, reinforcing life skills like accountability and self-reliance. “When I set up meetings with new clients and their parents, I explain that I am not a counsellor or therapist,” says Louise. “I meet with clients to help them navigate their trauma through motivational interviewing and introspective education so they can interpret their own narrative.”

A lot of Louise’s meetings follow a similar pattern: she picks the clients up after school or work, drives them to get a snack and takes them back to where they want to be dropped off once the time is up. “Studies show that the best way to talk to a teenager is in the car while driving,” says Louise. “That’s why most of my meetings happen in the car, where it’s an informal and casual space that gives them an alternative safe space.”

Since the organization is still relatively small and new, Louise and the team collaborate with local organizations like RCMP, school counsellors, addiction services and even the corrections system for referrals for high-risk youth who need guidance that fits their unique situations. “Unfortunately, I've had clients who have experienced being on hold for an hour on crisis lines looking for help,” says Louise. “When they've had these negative experiences, that inhibits them from reaching out for support again which is why I've been successful in travelling to them instead.”

This approach goes a long way toward creating an environment where youth feel seen, valued, and understood. For many, the informal, mobile nature of the program is transformative. Louise has witnessed the power of these connections firsthand, noting that clients often refer their friends to Anam — a testament to the trust and comfort they find in its unique model.

As for the future of the organization, Louise hopes that Anam can grow its staff members to accommodate more clients in need. Luckily for Louise, that reality doesn’t seem too far off. Anam recently received charity status in the summer of 2024, marking a milestone in its journey to support more youth and families across rural Alberta. “These kids need a safety net,” says Louise. “I intend to be one for them and get them the support they need.”