Children & Youth

Helping youth one call at a time

The Peer Youth Hotline helps young people cope with anxiety and stress

One of the biggest impacts of COVID-19 has been on people’s mental health. The isolation people felt being separated from friends and family has had a lasting effect, particularly on youth. To alleviate the loneliness, we created the Peer Youth Helpline.

Staffed by peers, the non-crisis Helpline gives young people the opportunity to reach out and talk about what matters to them. Whether they are anxious, afraid or just need to connect, callers ease their stress by talking with peer youth and know that they are not alone. As one of the peers, Cassandra spoke to many young people who were having a difficult time with changes brought about by the pandemic.

Steps to success

Students in Steps2Success gain academic credits and self-care tools needed to graduate high school

For many young people in our communities, the dangers of violence, drugs and poverty makes graduating from high school a pipe dream. Steps2Success changes that.

As part of the TDSB’s Education and Community Partnership Program, Steps2Success is offered in a safe, inclusive space outside of school where students are comfortable and empowered to learn. Students are reintegrated into a learning environment to gain their high school credits while receiving holistic care for trauma, mental health, harm reduction, and self-care.

With a dedicated TDSB teacher who specializes in guidance and special education, and a youth worker from The Neighbourhood Group Community Services, young people benefit from compassion, enthusiasm, expertise, and experience.