· Anxiety and exploring coping strategies;
· Social media and it’s emotional impact;
· Positive self-talk;
· Relationships – boundaries, pressures, communication
· Stigma and discrimination;
· Building resilience (understanding what's in our control and letting go of what we can't control, looking at choices, learning to stand back from situations);
The group sessions are shaped by young people. Facilitators introduce a topic and age appropriate exercises to deepen group discussion and understanding. As well as talking and working through these areas they are given helpful activities, offered a chance to participate in creative play exercises, worksheets and offered useful handouts.
Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as other bespoken therapies are practiced within the sessions. Being part of a group and sharing with others of a similar age helps them to share what positive mental health looks like whilst dealing with the adversities that life can bring.
That is only possible through the creation of a safe environment which provides all the conditions to let young people grow:
· Empowerment – allow young people to feel that they have some control over their lives; offering to support them with the ability to solve problems;
· Making young people feel valued, trusted, understood, safe and giving them some sense of belonging;
· Giving opportunities to enjoy themselves;
· Encouraging young people to be hopeful and optimistic;
· Providing understanding / knowledge / self-awareness;
· Allowing young people to be listened to;
· Delivering a group that responds to young people’s needs and works on what’s relevant for them;
· Encouraging positive, open peer to peer sharing, “I’m not alone”; this unique environment offers young people the opportunity to interact with others to share and explore conflicts and anxieties that they are all going through;
Our experience with young people to date shows that engagement with our services leads to young people’s:
•Improving attendance/engagement with school, work or training
•Improving relationships with family and friends
• Decreasing level of distress, risk of self-harm, su***de, and harm to or from others
