Our staff will gather information to determine which of our services are appropriate, or if a referral to detox, residential treatment, recovery and/or community resources is necessary. Call us or fill out the service request and submit it to us through our contact form.

The Supporting Youth program (SYP) offers intervention and support for youth and young adults aged 12-24 who are dealing with substance use and mental health challenges. A Prevention Worker will work directly with youth, supporting them to achieve optimal health in their interconnecting physical, mental, social, spiritual and environmental life areas. This support goes beyond simply stopping use or behaviours; support includes helping youth build healthier relationships with themselves, others, and the world around them.

Phone: 604-518-5033

Supporting Youth Admission Criteria

  • Youth aged 24 years old and under
  • Working/attending school/living in Richmond
  • Seeking or in recovery of mental health and substance misuse and/or other addictive behaviors.
  • Able to participate in group activities

The program delivers the following services for individuals from different ethnic, cultural, socio-economic backgrounds:

Recreational and creative opportunities

Life skills coaching

Employment and academic support

SYP Outcomes

The SYP aims to provide a sober environment in which there are limited triggers for relapse. They utilize tools for long term recovery such as connection to counselling and a supportive adult, support groups and life skills development to help youth complete their education and find work or other sources of fulfillment. It offers a longer-term and more intense day programming for students and youth who need to place recovery above all other priorities as life has become unmanageable for them due to more severe and prolonged drug use and mental health issues.

Youth involved in the program tend to stay in the program for 2-6 months until they are ready to re-integrate back into their community school or steady employment. This time allows for recovery to take hold and practice harm reduction with the ultimate goal of abstinence to replace the habitual drug use. The SYP offers a continuum of day programming that is tailored to the specific needs of the youth and are a graded and progressive response to the presenting issues of the young person. These youth are often currently at risk, marginalized, have home and school issues and multiple barriers such as service access and stigma.

The SYP is tailored to meet the psychological needs of youth working on sobriety and gain a strong foothold in recovery. Youth have been openly supported to work through mental illness symptoms, cravings and symptoms of withdrawal and are encouraged to ask for support. The supportive structures that exist in the program emanate from the SYP Prevention Worker, and the other service providers who provide mentorship and professional relationships as well as from the peer support in the program.

The involvement of the parents is helpful as parents have been actively involved in the recovery journey. Connection to family counselling and education has been offered alongside the youth’s recovery plan in coordination with the other programming offered at RASS and services by community partners.

What do youth in SYP say?