Research shows that having a consistent, caring adult in your teenage years reduces mental health and substance use risk by 3 times. You get to be part of this!! You will never fully grasp the impact you can have by being a listening ear.

—> If a student confides in group or with you, listen with a compassionate, non-judgmental stance. Even if it feels shocking, keeping a neutral posture helps the student feel safe to share. Get to know them and what’s going on. Be curious about their experience and make a space for them to be heard.

Helpful phrases: (1) “Tell me more” (2) “Take your time sharing, I’m here to listen.” (3) “Is there anything else you’d like to share?”

*If the student mentions abuse of any kind, harming themselves, or harming others– that must be brought to the youth pastor for mandatory reporting protocol.  

As a youth leader, it is not your job to be a student’s therapist or carry the weight of their struggles alone. If a student mentions substance use, ask yourself:

1. Is it ongoing? (not one-time use or occasional teenage experimenting/partying—this would still be a great time to loop in parents or youth pastors)

2. Is the student relying on the substance to cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, etc? 

3. Is what they’re sharing beyond my role as a leader? 

If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, it’s important to rope in outside support. As a rule of thumb, start with the student’s Pastor! To keep trust, invite the student into this process.

—> “Thank you for trusting me with this. It’s important to me that you get the support you need, and I need to bring Pastor ____ into this. Would you like to come with me?”

Below is a “safety chain” of support:

Pastor —> Parents —> Professionals

The Lord can work miracles in our student’s lives. He also walks hand-in-hand with professionals equipped to process with students facing a substance use disorder. Being equipped with the resources in your community for students and parents makes a difference!! You can also be a resourced leader by knowing the digital tools and spending time educating yourself.

(resources below!)