Youth Programming
Our youth program provides educational resources and programs aimed at increasing the resiliency and coping skills of young people, thereby reducing the likelihood of suicide and crisis in their lives. Central to our approach is the importance of inspiring hope, mental and emotional wellness, and nurturing the capacity of young people to help themselves and each other in times of need. A key component of our programming for youth is sharing mindfulness practices which are supported by research to be effective in fostering resiliency and social and emotional learning.
Each year, Community Education staff and volunteers facilitate over 400 workshops on Mindfulness-Based Stress Management and Suicide Prevention to thousands of high school students in the Lower Mainland and Sea-to-Sky corridor. In 2011-12, we are piloting “Building Resiliency: Learning through Active Mindfulness Practices”, a mindfulness based program for younger adolescents aimed at building self awareness and coping skills.
Why work with Youth?
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among BC youth aged 12-18. Current research indicates that 5-7% of BC high school students reported making a suicide attempt in the past twelve months; 14% reported making a suicide plan; and 12- 16% reported seriously contemplating suicide. Between 2003 and 2007, 81 BC youth took their own lives. We also know that young people are experiencing more stress and pressure in their lives with 14% of high school youth reporting that their level of stress is “more than they can take” and another 21% stating that they experience “quite a bit of pressure.”
- Considering these statistics about youth, we find hope in and are responding to research that indicates:
- Building social and emotional competency through mindfulness practices helps foster resiliency, promote mental wellness, and an ability to cope with life challenges;
- Approximately 80% of youth who die by suicide signal their suicidal intentions to others;
- Youth are much more likely to share their suicidal intentions with each other before talking to the adults in their lives;
- Talking about suicide is a preventive measure.
About our Wellness Workshops for Youth:
- Work Your Mind Muscle: Mindfulness-Based Stress Management and Reaching Out: Suicide Awareness & Response
- Free of charge for youth in grades 8 to 12 in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and communities along the Sea to Sky Corridor;
- 60 to 90 minutes each (1 class period);
- For groups of 5 to 30 youth;
- Interactive & dynamic format: combining experiential, dialogic and hands-on learning;
- Responsive & evolving: workshops updated based on participant feedback and best-practice literature;
- Facilitated by trained Volunteer Youth Educators.
To learn more or to book a workshop, please email youthworkshops@crisiscentre.bc.ca.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer youth educator, visit our Volunteer Youth Educator page.
Learn more about youth suicide prevention or mindfulness literature informing our programming.