Programs

This one-hour interactive assembly engages youth shared lived experience by trained youth speakers, educational exercises, and interactives. Educational components on mental health and wellness are incorporated to provide a positive platform to discuss challenges and coping tools. Youth speakers will share their raw and relatable real-life stories that will capture audience members from beginning to end. The speakers provide messages of decision-making, self-awareness, inclusivity, respect, perseverance and empowerment.

In this 45-minute interactive assembly, fun-filled activities will provide young students with an exciting way to learn about their minds and bodies. Youth speakers will tell and use their personal stories as an educational tool to teach primary students about topics such as; kindness, exercise, emotions and acceptance. Students will learn how to identify their own feelings and begin to understand what are healthy choices that make their minds and bodies feel good.

In this one-hour assembly students will be taken through interactive and educational activities surrounding mental health and substance use. Youth Speakers will provide real life stories outlining personal experiences, decision-making, mental health challenges, choices, resiliency, coping tools and self-regulation. Students will learn the dangers of substance misuse and the importance of developing and utilizing coping tools and supports.

This one-hour assembly provides students with youth speakers lived experience with bullying and how it had an impact on their mental health and upbringing. The speaker’s outline the power words and actions can have on others, as well as positive coping tools students can use if they are experiencing bullying. Interactive components will educate the students further on respecting yourself and others, their mental health and what they can do to help themselves and their friends who may be experiencing bullying.

This one-hour assembly will provide students with a deeper look into the impact that online use may have on their mental health. Engaging activities will educate youth on the effects technology-use has on their physical, social and emotional health; signs and symptoms of problem-usage; dangers such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking. Youth Speakers will provide real-life experiences and personal examples of how online use has affected their self-esteem, choices, social groups, and self-concept. Youth speakers will also provide messages of hope, empowerment, self-awareness, positive self-talk, coping strategies and how to live balanced lifestyles. Students will leave with a greater understanding of the choices they are making online and how to interact and use technology in a healthier way.

This one -hour interactive assembly exploring how our mind and body are so closely connected. Students will be guided through information linked to the Phys. Ed curriculum as they explore how important it is to take care of both your physical and mental health. Youth speakers will provide real life experiences with challenges such as body image from a mental health perspective all relating to nutrition and fitness. Students will leave with a greater understanding of positive choices & coping tools they can use to take care of their overall health.

In this 45-minute assembly, youth speakers team up with players from the Toronto Marlies to bring a strong message about resilience, character and overcoming obstacles. In this assembly, students will benefit from hearing the youth speakers’ personal stories as well be motivated by the voice of professional hockey players (Afternoons only, some limitations on location & based on School Day game ticket sales).

These 45-70-minute sessions follow a large group assembly and will go more in-depth into the topics discussed. Follow-ups also provide the opportunity to address other topics in a more inclusive space, with opportunity for more open discussions. They will use interactive educational components to help get the students to critically analyze these topics and develop coping tools and skills to takeaway. Other topics include: Healthy Relationships; Body Image and Self Esteem; Gaming; Social Media; Stigma; Coping Strategy/ Self-Regulation Toolbox; Choices & Decision Making; Addiction

Interactive workshops for up to 60 participants provide students with a brief background of speakers’ personal stories and experiences with mental health related challenges. Youth speakers will guide the students through an interactive session of educational components and learning tools that will help them build self-awareness, coping tools and resilience.

Within the context of a youth-friendly and engaging format, youth speakers will share skills on how youth can access their inner voice to impact and add value for the audience. This interactive workshop will focus on personal strengths, address barriers to confidence, and provide a safe space to practise public speaking skills. Participants will learn tools for dealing with self-doubt and nervousness; build a basic understanding of putting together and presenting a speech.

Youth with lived experience share their personal stories on mental health and related issues to create a safe space for students to ask for help, give hope and aid in educating audiences. Information on various challenges and issues will be provided to increase awareness and decrease stigma. Tips and strategies to help support yourself and others will be provided along with a list of resources are provided.

YouthSpeak’s youth drug awareness conference held in March each year that provides students with an opportunity to hear the personal stories of youth speakers, engage in fun, positive activities such as breakdance, martial arts, slam poetry, graffiti arts, belly dance, knitting. As well, explore community agency interactive booths and demos.

Trained youth speakers share their personal stories to increase understanding of issues relevant in the teen years such mental health, bullying, substance misuse, online/social media, as well tips on how to create a safe space. A youth voice brought to these difficult issues provides caring adults with a fresh perspective to bring to their relationships with their youth.

Learn tips on how to build positive relationships with their youth, they identify strengths, assets & resiliency skills:

Renewed sense of hope and increase in understanding

• Improve communication parent/child communication
• Access Parent Tip sheet
• Access a Resource List

Self-Care Workshop facilitated by Una Wright, Founder of YouthSpeak who shares her personal toolbox of coping strategies. This interactive workshop will engage participants and provide take-away tips and tools that are easy to integrate into a busy life. Participants will learn:

• Tools for keeping balance and coping with everyday stress
• Tips to increase personal well-being
• Fast-track to mental clarity and inner peace during difficult life circumstances
• Opportunity for question & answer period
• Information on resources

A 45-75-minute workshop will provide youth with a brief background of speakers’ personal stories and experiences with mental health related challenges. Youth speakers will guide the students through an interactive session of educational components and learning tools that will help them build self-awareness, coping tools and resilience.

Within the context of a youth-friendly and engaging format, youth speakers will share skills on how youth can access their inner voice to impact and add value for the audience. This interactive workshop will focus on personal strengths, address barriers to confidence, and provide a safe space to practise public speaking skills. Participants will learn tools for dealing with self-doubt and nervousness; build a basic understanding of putting together and presenting a speech.

Youth Share Their Personal Stories to increase understanding of issues relevant in the teen years such mental health, bullying, substance misuse, online/social media, as well tips on how to create a safe space for youth to talk, and information on resources.

Self-Care Workshop facilitated by Una Wright, Founder of YouthSpeak who shares her personal toolbox of coping strategies. This interactive workshop will engage participants and provide take-away tips and tools that are easy to integrate into a busy life. Participants will learn:

• Tools for keeping balance and coping with everyday stress
• Tips to increase personal well-being
• Fast-track to mental clarity and inner peace during difficult life circumstances
• Opportunity for question & answer period
• Information on resources

We provide presentations for school councils, conferences, AGM’s. The YouthSpeak teams’ engaging style adds impact and generates meaningful conversation to the successful outcome of events.