Since training as a youth worker over ten years ago, I’ve held pastoral roles in colleges, worked as a Support Manager for a youth mental health charity and volunteered with my local church youth group. I am a Mental Health First Aider and completed an MSc in Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health in 2018. I recently joined the NYA as an Academy tutor.
Being a young person today is very different from when I was an adolescent. The digital age makes it hard to switch off, and I’ve seen the impact manifest as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and loneliness. Academic pressure, identity formation and the loss of spaces to form social bonds are ongoing challenges.
Creating safe and supportive spaces for young people
Rachel Rothe,
NYA Academy Tutor
As youth workers, we can create safe spaces by being consistent, practising active listening and being non-judgemental. Integrating mental health and wellbeing into activities and conversations encourages young people to explore their feelings and reach out sooner. If how they’re feeling is impacting their day-to-day for a two-week period or longer, encourage a visit to the GP or refer to a specialist.
I supported a young girl whose depression worsened during COVID-19. By meeting regularly, encouraging counselling and discussing wellbeing in group sessions it helped her, and others share challenges, discover coping strategies and focus on what they could do when feeling low.
Another young person who lived in supported accommodation would frequently self-harm, often requiring medical intervention or stays in hospital. I worked with them, the residential unit and the safeguarding team to develop a plan for recognising feelings before crises. Together, we created a “crisis wheel” in the style of a veggie pizza so they could self-assess and follow steps that helped them.
Whatever your youth work setting, supporting the mental health of young people includes:
Listening to the young person’s voice:
As youth workers we are guided by the voices of young people. Whether it’s through conversations, ensuring their participation is voluntary or empowering them to make their own choices and decisions, their perspective should shape our approach. This might mean offering a listening ear, providing more focused support, or simply being a safe and welcoming space where they feel they belong. Utilising the NYA’s free Hear by Right self-assessment tools which support organisations to plan, develop and evaluate their participation practices, or accessing free CPD opportunities such as our Introduction to Participation course, can strengthen these skills, helping youth workers ensure that young people are not just heard, but actively shape the services and support around them.
Prioritising your own wellbeing as this is essential for sustaining effective practice:
Maintain your own self-care routines and utilise structures within your setting, such as supervision, peer support, employee assistance programmes or local health facilities. If you’re a supervisor or team leader, our advanced CPD course Supervising Youth Workers will empower you to support your team and build inclusive practices.
Access training and support:
- The NYA Academy Level 3 and Level 4 courses include a dedicated unit on mental health.
- The Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice (JNC Recognised) and Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice (JNC Recognised) both provide a foundation for volunteers and those working in youth work settings. Key takeaways are having a better understanding of positive mental health and ways we can help young people explore thoughts and feelings in our youth work practice, while knowing when to signpost for specialist support.
- The Level 4 Certificate in Professional Development (Youth Work) Route 2 offers in-depth training for team leaders and those looking to build upon their experience. The dedicated mental health unit is designed to help learners understand the key components and theories that underpin good mental health, the factors that negatively and positively affect mental health and wellbeing, and the legal and statutory frameworks that protect young people’s mental health. Learners will also examine the difference between recovery and strength-based models, explore practical resources and frameworks for supporting young people in everyday practice and reflect on the impact their support may have on a young person’s wellbeing.
We also offer a scope of free CPD courses packed with guidance and resources to support youth workers:
