When youth witness or experience a horrible event, they often do not have words to help make sense of what is happening and do not realize the potential for long lasting effects. It can be challenging to ask for help. As a result, youth often work to make sense of it alone. Managing these challenging emotions and stressful events by themselves can often lead to additional struggles such as unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking, hanging out with the wrong group of friends, acting out or internalizing their feelings and isolating themselves as a way to be safe.
Peer support has been shown to greatly improve outcomes for youth who are struggling after a traumatic experience or with behavioral health and mental health issues.
Links to Resource:
- Access A Guide for Youth: Understanding Trauma – From Youth MOVE National, this guide is designed to help youth make a connection between stressful events and the potential lasting impacts.
- Find peer support resources from YouthMOVENational.org
- Watch a video on Youth Peer Support, February 2018’s Monthly Minute from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adinistration’s TA Network
- View the SAMHSA infographic Peer Support
- View the SAMHSA infographic Peers Supporting Recovery From Substance Use Disorders
- View the SAMHSA infographic Peers Supporting Recovery From Mental Health Conditions
- View the webinar recording Peer Support Construction Zone: Building Structure from a Foundation of Lived Experience from SAMHSA
Date: 2018