Topic: Talking to young people about alcohol, drugs, tobacco and vaping: Strategies for parents and carers
A young person’s attitudes and decisions about using drugs and alcohol will be influenced by people around them, especially by their parents/carers. Being prepared for open and sometimes difficult conversations, knowing the facts about drugs and alcohol, and being a role model are good strategies for supporting a young person to navigate their way through this important stage of their development. When drug and/or alcohol use becomes problematic, it’s important for young people and their families to know how to get help.
Join Angela, Caroline and other parents, carers and supporters as we discuss why young people might use drugs and alcohol, how to talk to them about the effects and impacts of drug and alcohol use and where you can get help and information to help them reduce the risks associated with drug and alcohol use.
How to participate
There’s no cost for participating. To maintain confidentiality, sessions are NOT recorded.
Contact Caroline Wood at caroline.wood@mifwa.org.au and you will be emailed a Zoom link invitation on the day of the session.
About Our online Supporting Group
Parenthood doesn’t come with a How-To Guide. At every age and stage, families are provided with opportunities to learn who their young person is and how they move through the world. When mental health challenges are also part of the young person’s journey, knowing how to support them can be difficult.
Topics may include:
- Relationships, family dynamics and effective communication
- Hearing voices
- Dual diagnosis – Substance Use and Mental Health Conditions
- Self-care and wellbeing
- Lived experience recovery stories
- Understanding self-harm
- Eating disorders and body image
- Gender identity
- Co-occurring mental health conditions and neurodivergence
Topics are announced each month.
Each session offers a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment.
Angela, our Peer Facilitator, has many years’ lived experience of caring for family members impacted by mental health challenges. Her understanding of what it means to be a Carer is a recent and life-changing discovery. Angela aims to help carers find meaning and hope in their personal caring journey, and to contribute to awareness and improvement of support and services for mental health carers, families and supporters.
Download the Online Parent Support Group – Flyer
Download the Online Parent Support Group Guidelines
