💡 Understanding Young People’s Needs
Young people experiencing mental health and substance use issues require specialised, developmentally appropriate care. Early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term harm and support healthy development.
🟢 Unique Challenges Faced by Young People
- ✅ Higher Vulnerability to Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)
- Adolescents have developing brains, making them more susceptible to addiction.
- Increased risk-taking behaviours due to underdeveloped impulse control.
- Peer influence and social pressure play a significant role in substance use initiation.
- ✅ Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
- High rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and emerging personality disorders.
- Mental health symptoms often precede substance use and can be exacerbated by it.
- Difficulty in recognising or articulating emotions.
- ✅ Barriers to Engagement in Treatment
- Distrust of services, fear of being judged, and lack of autonomy.
- Concerns about confidentiality (especially in family settings or school involvement).
- Limited knowledge about mental health and substance use risks.
- Resistance to adult-led interventions; preference for peer or youth-specific approaches.
- ✅ Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Young people with trauma histories (abuse, neglect, domestic violence) are at greater risk of developing SUDs and mental health conditions.
- Need for trauma-informed care to avoid re-traumatisation in services.
- ✅ Education, Family, and Social Considerations
- School disruptions, poor academic performance, and disciplinary issues.
- Family conflict, unstable home environments, or being in care.
- Social isolation or involvement in high-risk peer groups.
🔵 Best Practices for Supporting Young People
- ✅ Youth-Friendly, Non-Judgemental Approach
- Use age-appropriate communication and avoid clinical jargon.
- Foster trust and rapport by validating their experiences and choices.
- Encourage participation in their own care planning.
- ✅ Integrated & Holistic Support
- Provide dual diagnosis-informed care addressing both mental health and substance use together.
- Collaborate with education, family services, and community support networks.
- Offer flexible service models (e.g., drop-in support, outreach, digital engagement).
- ✅ Peer & Community Involvement
- Promote peer-led interventions and recovery communities.
- Encourage participation in positive social activities to rebuild self-esteem.
- Engage families and caregivers where appropriate, ensuring they receive guidance on how to support recovery.
- ✅ Early Intervention & Harm Reduction
- Screen for substance use and mental health concerns using youth-specific tools (e.g., CRAFFT, HEADSS).
- Provide harm reduction education without judgement (e.g., safer drug use, overdose prevention, managing mental health symptoms).
- Offer alternative coping strategies (e.g., mindfulness, physical activity, creative therapies).
🚀 Key Takeaway: Young people need tailored, flexible, and trauma-informed care that empowers them, respects their autonomy, and integrates mental health, substance use, and social support.