A Strong Start: Guiding Your Kids Through Back To School Challenges

Click here to register for this free webinar, taking place on Wednesday September 17th at 12:00-1:00PM EST.

The back-to-school period can bring a mix of emotions for children, teenagers, and young adults, ranging from excitement and anticipation to stress and anxiety. Join Substance (formerly known as Drug Free Kids Canada) as we examine the relationships between substance use, stress/anxiety, depression and coping. 

During this 60-minute presentation, we will:

1. Reflect on the impacts of stress in our own lives before considering stress facing youth​.
   1. Self-assess our own current stance on stress and substance use, both separately and together.
   2. Discuss the difference between anxiety and disordered anxiety, as well as the prevalence of youth mental health disorders in Canada over the last 10 years.
2. Compare the impact of various coping strategies, including substance use, on stress and anxiety.
   1. Explore different methods of coping, including the difference between adaptive and maladaptive coping.
   2. Examine how the use of commonly consumed substances (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and opioids) impact our ability to manage stress and anxiety, and whether these substances increase or decrease stress in our lives.
3. Consider conversation strategies and skills that parents and professionals can use to engage with youth about substance use and wellness.
   1. Consider scenarios and responses to comments that are commonly brought up by youth when discussing substance use
   2. Explore active listening strategies
   3. Identify risk/protective factors impacting harmful substance use and how adults can model protective factors at home, in their work and in the community at large

If you are interested in learning more, you can email the program developer, Steve Keller, at skeller@talksubstance.org.

You can also visit our website at talksubstance.org.