Events

This session invites you to unpack and redefine traditional narratives surrounding experiences of self-harm and 'crisis' for youth and young adults. Facilitated through a lens of firsthand lived/ing experience, this session will consider healing-centered harm reduction and trauma-conscious approaches while navigating the complexities of existing support systems. Together, we will explore the intersecting roots of...

What does parent empowerment have to do with peer support? In the growing service of peer support, when a youth may be struggling with their mental health, and/or substance use, to meet the needs of the youth, the needs of the parent/primary caregiver must also be met. Exactly what those needs are, will depend on...

The way we show up for someone in crisis can make all the difference. This workshop offers a foundational understanding of liberatory peer crisis support, highlighting the value of grounding ourselves in our own experiences and making space for others. Intention and curiosity are critical when specific experiences are commonly held with misunderstanding and judgement--...

With growing interest in youth peer support, it is critical to ensure that policy change is driven by young people themselves. This session will feature co-presenters discussing Mental Health America's Youth Policy Accelerator, a national youth peer support policy leadership program. Attendees will gain insights into the core components of effective advocacy and the current...

As peers with lived and/or living experiences, we must recognize the courage that comes with exploring job fields and establishing career paths. Although there is a rise of support for employing peers, there are still limitations to retaining and sustaining peer roles. The purpose of this workshop is to explore the rising interest of employing...