Youth voices matter. And when it comes to supporting young people, they deserve a seat at the table.
Members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grey, Bruce and West Simcoe Youth Council recently had the opportunity to contribute their perspectives to Parents Like Us: The Unofficial Survival Guide to Caring for a Loved One Who Uses Substances – a local handbook written by loved ones, caregivers, people with lived experience, and community members who understand the challenges that substance use can bring to families.
We are grateful to the Grey Bruce Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for inviting our Youth Council to be part of this important work and, most importantly, for creating space for young people to share their voices and perspectives. We also extend our thanks to the Community Foundation Grey Bruce for funding this important project and helping bring this resource to our community.
The Youth Council was invited to take part in a stand-alone session to share their experiences, perspectives, and wisdom about what young people need from the adults and communities around them.
Their contributions became a dedicated Youth Perspectives section in the handbook – and their message is powerful:
Start conversations with care and respect.
Young people shared that honest conversations about substance use can be difficult, but avoiding the topic can create even more distance. Listening without judgement, respecting boundaries, and approaching conversations with patience and compassion can help build trust.
Recognize youth stress and mental health.
Young people are carrying pressures that aren’t always visible – from academics and social relationships to family responsibilities, finances and worries about the future. Creating opportunities for connection, recreation, healthy coping and simply being young can make a meaningful difference.
Look beneath the surface.
Instead of asking, “What is wrong with this young person?”, youth encouraged adults to ask, “What has this young person been through?” Stress, trauma, loss, loneliness, family responsibilities and other challenges can all shape a young person’s experiences. Substance use is only one part of their story – it does not define who they are.
Build trust and create safe spaces.
Young people may worry that speaking honestly about substance use will lead to punishment, loss of privacy, or getting into trouble. Creating spaces where youth feel safe, heard, and accepted can make it more likely that they will reach out when they need support.
Recognize the power of peers.
Young people often turn to their friends before they turn to adults. Friends can provide understanding, acceptance and belonging, but they also need support and guidance to know how to help someone who is struggling – and when to involve a trusted adult.
Understand the influence of family and home life.
Family can be a tremendous source of strength, but young people can also experience stress, responsibility, caregiving roles, or exposure to substance use at home. Youth reminded us that the words, reactions and assumptions of adults can have a lasting impact on whether a young person feels safe enough to ask for help.
Support change through understanding and harm reduction.
Youth emphasized that substance use challenges are complex and that change rarely happens in a straight line. They highlighted the importance of safety, connection, realistic conversations and support.
Strengthen community supports.
Youth shared a desire for accessible, welcoming, youth-centred supports in schools and communities – services that are non-judgemental, responsive, private and easy to access.
The perspectives shared by our Youth Council members remind us of something incredibly important: young people are not just recipients of services and support. They are experts in their own experiences, and their voices can help shape better communities. We are incredibly proud of the youth who participated in this process and shared their wisdom to help families, caregivers and communities better understand what young people need.
Thank you to the Parents Like Us team for creating space for youth voice and for recognizing the value of their perspectives in this important local resource. Parents Like Us is a starting point for connection, understanding, support and resources for families navigating substance use. Most importantly, its message is one of hope: you are not alone.