Contents

Resources

Youth Skill Building

The promotion of youth competencies and the development of specific life skills are relevant for the prevention of youth suicide and suicidal behaviours. Research suggests that youth who respond to stress and crisis with self-harming behaviours may be limited in their coping and problem-solving abilities, lending support to programs which seek to enhance these skills. 25 26 Social skills training approaches have been successful in addressing other high-risk youth behaviours such as depression, aggression, and substance abuse.

Many youth skill-building efforts have been delivered as part of school-based curricula, however these programs can be adapted for community settings. Focal points for skill-building programs for youth can include a range of topics, including:

  • Self-esteem enhancement
  • Coping skills
  • Healthy decision making
  • Self-awareness
  • Interpersonal communication skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Goal-setting
  • Assertiveness
  • Conflict resolution and mediation
  • Stress management
  • Dealing with loss
  • Emotion regulation
  • Distress tolerance
  • Help-seeking
  • Refuting irrational beliefs
  • Identifying and responding to distressed peers
  • Empathy
  • Moral development
  • Leadership
  • Citizenship skills
  • Cultural sensitivity and awareness
  • Social justice and diversity

Implementation Ideas and Tools

FRIENDS for Life is an example of a school-based early intervention and prevention program that is focused on preventing anxiety and depression and promoting resilience among children and youth through a number of specific skill-building efforts. In BC the FRIENDS program is sponsored by the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) and the Ministry of Education.

For a list of additional resources relevant to youth skill-building, click here.