Guideline 3: Focus on skill building, empowerment, self-efficacy and individual resilience, and respect

Best practice guidelines for mental health promotion programs: Children & Youth

Provide a focus on skill building, empowerment, self-efficacy and individual resilience, and ensure that children and youth are treated with respect, by:

• providing individual skills training
• providing parental skills training
• providing family communication skills training
• dealing with feelings of loss, conflict and anger
• dealing with clients’ feelings in a respectful and dignified manner.

Examples include:

• building young peoples’:
  • social skills
  • self-control
  • emotional awareness
  • peer relations
  • problem-solving skills
  • cognitive and social development
  • self-esteem
  • academic skills
• building parents’:
  • parenting skills
  • family management skills.

Programs that incorporate Guideline 3 are:

• The School Mental Health Program (SMHP)
• Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY)
• The Yale–New Haven Primary Prevention Program
• Miyupimaatisiiuwin Wellness Curriculum (MWC)
• Gatehouse Project
• Penn Prevention Program
• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP)
• Strengthening Families for the Future (SFF)

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