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Speak Your Truth, Find Your Strength

Empowering Youth Through Shared Journeys of Hope and Recovery

Youth Peer Talk

Stigma about mental illness can prevent young people from seeking the help that they need. It takes courage to tell your story, but it can be rewarding, empowering, and an essential part of your recovery. Research shows that when young people hear positive stories of hope and recovery, it breaks down barriers to mental health problems and can be instrumental in changing mindsets and behaviours. This contact-based education has proven to be a powerful model for learning.

We find hope because someone else has gone through a similar experience or journey. Youth Journeys of Hope are shared by youth who have been there. Sharing our journey or story can help us connect to others, manage our lives coherently, and help us to understand others’ stories. Through sharing, we improve our own mental health and well-being. We know we are not alone.

Our Youth Peer Talk program encourages you to leave the shadows of stigma and talk about mental health problems with those you can trust: someone who’s been there.

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Youth Peer Talk

The Youth Leadership Program is a workshop comprising eight one- to two-hour sessions that enable those between the ages of 14 and 18 to develop their communication and leadership skills through practical experience. In the workshop, young people will learn how to:

  • Evaluate speaking ability
  • Prepare and deliver speeches
  • Give impromptu talks
  • Control voice, vocabulary, and gestures
  • Give constructive feedback and more

At the end of training, graduates become members of the Youth Peer Talk Speakers Bureau. Workshops are limited to 25 students.

Interpersonal Communication Program

The Interpersonal Communication program helps youth build effective listening and communication skills while understanding their communication style. This content, created by Toastmasters International, is designed to support existing youth programs and groups by helping adolescents learn to become better communicators. The program includes two manuals: the Team Member Manual, which has short assignments and materials to supplement group activities; and the Team Leader Manual.

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