At Ray of Hope, we believe no young person is ever beyond the possibility of change. Our Youth Support Services program is here for youth and young adults facing mental health challenges and addictive behaviours. Our goal is to meet people where they are, with compassion and respect, offering the right support at the right time so they can begin to imagine and work toward a better future.
We understand that change does not always follow a straight path and progress can take time and that sometimes there are setbacks before forward movement. Our role is to walk beside youth through those moments so that when they are ready, they have a safe place to turn and the tools they need to move ahead.
There are two programs for people to get involved.
Day Youth Program (DYP) is a small group program for up to eight high school students at a time. It allows youth to continue their education while working through addiction and/or mental health struggles. It is more than a classroom, it is a place where participants can be honest, supported, and surrounded by people who believe in their ability to heal.
Community Counselling is also available. Qualified therapists are available to meet one- on-one. Participants can meet with a therapist at Ray of Hope, while others feel more comfortable meeting at their school, in their home, or even while walking outside. Therapists will follow the lead of the participant because feeling safe is the first step toward opening up and healing.
We know that caregivers need support too and we offer caregiver support groups along with one-on-one or couple counselling for parents, guardians, siblings, grandparents, or friends. Even if the youth in their life is not in our program, we are here to help them navigate the complexities of supporting someone in crisis.
If you know a youth or young adult who could benefit from this kind of care, the first step is simple. Fill out the intake form on our website and someone from our team will respond quickly to connect them with the right person.