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The Link Program: Enhancing Youth Wellness and Resilience

The Link Program aims to increase grades 6 to 12 youth’s awareness of community resources, enhance problem-solving skills, prevent escalation of issues, and promote mental fitness. Established in 1999 following tragic events, it is implemented across NB by mental health professionals and community representatives to foster a culture of wellness in schools. The program includes a symbolic Helping Tree, Link Companions, resource cards, and posters.

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The Link Program: Enhancing Youth Wellness and Resilience

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  1. To increase grades 6 to 12 youth’s awareness of community resources and support services. • To enhance youth problem solving and coping capacities. • To prevent escalation of issues or concerns. • To contribute to the development of mental fitness and resilience in youth. • To contribute to the development of a culture of wellness in schools. THE LINK OBJECTIVES

  2. Created in Grand Falls region in 1999 following the suicide of three youths. • Implemented by mental health professionals, school and community reps, and the local Suicide Prevention Committee. • Province wide since 2006 • Provincial wellness strategy: Mental fitness and resilience HISTORY

  3. Included in “Keeping Children and Youth Safe from Harm in New Brunswick”. • Included in the “Action plan for mental health in NB” STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

  4. Rounded shapes - collaboration and flexibility. • Grey - trust, green - hope, yellow - prevention , burgundy - caution. • Links symbolize the connection between members of the community. • Also represents the “Helping tree”. THE LINK SYMBOL

  5. ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

  6. REGIONAL LINK COMMITTEES

  7. Helping Tree • Link Companions • Link Resource Card • Posters, Stickers and Banners Key elements

  8. LINK brochure

  9. HELPING TREE

  10. Physical, emotional or sexual abuse, negligence and/or family violence. • Bullying, relationship violence, harassment, threats. • Legal issues • Social isolation • Physical health & nutrition • Spirituality - religion • Grief HELPING TREE – LISTING OF POTENTIAL ISSUES

  11. School-related issues (academic, motivation, socialisation). • Financial, housing , or employment issues • Addictions (drugs, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, etc…). • Support to teenage parents • Social rehabilitation HELPING TREE–LISTING OF POTENTIAL ISSUES(continued)

  12. Suicidal thoughts, mental health issues • Anger management, assertiveness • Eating disorders • Relationships, heartbreak, peer pressure, sick parents or friends, parents separation or divorce. • Sexual health and pregnancy • Sexual orientation and gender identity HELPING TREE –LISTING OF POTENTIAL ISSUES (continued)

  13. A non-specialist who provides assistance in the helping relationship. • Listens emphatically, uses basic active listening techniques. • Using the helping tree, provides support in clarifying issue and, if necessary, identifying support services. THE LINK COMPANION

  14. COMPANION STICKERS • Stickers are used to identify the « LINK companions ». • Placed in strategic places sothatstudentscaneasily know where to findthem.

  15. Each student is given a resource card and asked to sign it. • Can be used as a communication tool between the student and the “Link Companion”. • It means “ I need your assistance” • The cardalsoincludesnumbers for support services and emergencies. LINK RESOURCE CARD

  16. LINK POSTERs and banners • In schoolswhere the program is active, a giant banner and posters are strategicallyplacedthroughout the school.

  17. LINK banner

  18. LINK POSTER

  19. LINK POSTER

  20. 1 - Create a Regional Link Committee 2 - Adapt and print Link materials (resources cards & helping tree). 3 - Develop an implementation plan 4 - Developpartnershipswithschooladministrators 5 - Recruit school coordinators Implementation Steps

  21. www.programmelemaillon.com • www.thelinkprogram.com * The HelpingTree (interactive version) isalso accessible on smart phones via a QR code. Web site

  22. Questions?

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