Peer leaders in training.

The Northern Health Strategy recognizes that committed young people have the energy and enthusiasm to make positive changes in the lives and their communities, and that they are tremendously influential with their peers. With this in mind, the NHS brings Peer Leading Training to northern Saskatchewan youth.

Peer Leading Training aims to help students become helpers for other youth within their own groups. They are coached in ways to strengthen existing bonds and improve the natural helping networks that already exist within these groups. It has been recognized that youth have more impact on other youth due to the ‘trust’ factor and because they have a better understanding of the issues and concerns that are facing youth every day.

The goals of Peer Leading Training are to help students develop basic helping and communication skills; to promote leadership development; and to improve self-confidence, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Schools and communities may choose to use these young people in a role of support for other youth in the school or in the community.