Trained youth speakers share their personal stories with mental health, substance use and related issues. Participants will gain a greater understanding of struggles experienced by youth and a fresh perspective to bring to their relationships with youth in their care. Youth speakers draw on their own experience on what worked for them and what didn’t in terms of support and they share tips on how to create a safe space for youth to talk by encouraging participants to see strengths and assets versus problems and hopelessness. They share their messages from a strength-based place and impart transferable and transformative lessons that can inform and re-imagine system change.
Presenters and slide deck
Youth Facilitators, Lolita & Alex
Trained Youth Facilitators, Lolita and Alex draw on their lived experience to develop and deliver youth-led interactive presentations for youth and caring adults. They bring to this role skills and knowledge related to youth mental health, inclusion best practises, and self-care strategies. They engage in ongoing training and share their messages from a strength-based place.
Jana Kocourek
Jana is the Manager of Engagement and Standards at the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health (the Centre) in Ottawa, Ontario. She oversees the development and implementation of quality standards for the child and youth mental health sector including the quality standards for youth and family engagement. Jana's team works with community based child and youth mental health agencies in Ontario to imbed youth and family voice within organizations and communities by implementing the standards. Jana is also a member of the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) backbone team.
This workshop is available for other groups along with interactive presentations for-youth-by-youth on the following topics: Mental Health & Wellness; Anti-Racism; Bullying Prevention; Substance Use; Online Overdrive; Empowering Minds for New Times; and for younger children - Building-A-SelfCare-Toolkit
Una Wright- youthSpeak-Tip-Sheet-for-Caring-Adults.pdf
Key Learnings
- An increased understanding of struggles experienced by youth and a fresh perspective to bring to their relationships with youth in their care.
- Tips on how to create a safe space for youth to talk by encouraging participants to see strengths and assets versus problems and hopelessness.
- Hear key messages from a strength-based place and impart transferable and transformative lessons that can inform and re-imagine system change.