QUESTION:
I have heard that Family Services of the North Shore has a YouthLAB program, what is it all about?
Answer:
Over a year ago we decided that in order for our agency to reach youth who are suffering from serious mental health issues, we needed to find some socially minded, creative and smart youth to help. So, we recruited 10 teens from across the North Shore to form our inaugural Youth Leadership Advisory Board, or YouthLAB. These amazing young leaders spent the past school year helping Family Services create outreach strategies intended to reach at-risk youth. Check out two of their stories:
? Samantha Smith, Grade 10, Seycove
My health and career teacher saw an ad in the North Shore News looking for 10 creative youth who would be interested in learning about, and in turn, educating the public on mental health. We all know of a friend, family member or loved one who has painfully gone through or is experiencing anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, bullying or sexual abuse. When I heard about what Family Services wanted to do, I was thrilled! I have always had a passion for helping people and viewed this as a new bright opportunity for me.
I joined so I could gain new tools that are not taught in school. I know how to be a more supportive friend and how to handle myself in a difficult situation. The most important thing YouthLAB unexpectedly taught me was to not judge a book by its cover - as cliché as it sounds, it's the truth. My eyes have been opened and I realize now everyone has their own story. I'm happy to add YouthLAB to a chapter of my life.
? Savannah Duggan, Grade 12, Seycove secondary
Drugs, suicide, alienation. Why are so many youth in the world's most prosperous nations afflicted with these problems? The transition from childhood to adulthood hasn't become any easier with our social networking and media influence, in fact it's become harder. As young people, we're often told what our problems are, but rarely are we presented with a solution.
YouthLAB attempts to bring kids affected by these troubles into the solution. One of the things that makes YouthLAB so effective is that adults aren't imposing ideas on youth. The solutions are developed by youth and then communicated by youth to youth.
In the first year of YouthLAB, we produced a short film and gave presentations to schools across the North Shore to raise awareness on the topics of bullying, sexual abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.
Like most teens, I have had some challenges along the way, and I could see my peers facing the same problems. YouthLAB is a real attempt to help teens with the troubles they face in our society, in a way that works for them. Doing this work helped me understand my own situation and, in addition to the gratification of helping others, YouthLAB has been real work experience. With the guidance of the agency's counselling staff, we learned about many of the mental health issues facing young people and how we can help.
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If this sounds like something you, or someone you know, would be interested in, then consider applying to YouthLAB for the 2013-2014 school year.
Visit familyservices.bc.ca for details and while you're there, check out our YouTube video on the program.
Shelley Hine, M.A., R.C.C., is the co-ordinator of the youth leadership advisory board, YouthLAB, and Jessie's Legacy eating disorder prevention program at Family Services of the North Shore. Questions? Write [email protected] or call 604-988-5281.
