Stigma doesn't just affect how young people navigating adversity are treated, it shapes whether they believe they deserve support.How do we recognize and interrupt the effects of stigma so young people experience something different?

 

Many young people can tell us what doesn't feel safe, but have never been shown what safe relationships look and feel like.

Parental mental health and substance use challenges, and the stigma that often surrounds them, shape what many young people come to expect from adults long before they enter our classrooms, offices, healthcare settings, or community programs.

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This interactive two hour workshop explores how stress, stigma, attachment, and relational safety influence trust, behaviour, and help-seeking. Building on trauma-informed principles, participants will learn to recognize how stigma shows up in everyday interactions and develop practical strategies that foster connection, reduce barriers to support, and create opportunities for new relational experiences.