About PYSUP
Peterborough is joining communities across Canada and the world to work towards youth substance use prevention using the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM), which is recognized globally for its proven ability to improve youth mental health and lead to better future life outcomes. With the mentorship of Planet Youth, we will be implementing this long-term, community-driven approach to ensure that youth are immersed in healthy, supportive social environments and learn to adopt healthy behaviours.
What is Planet Youth?
Planet Youth is a research consultancy that offers a guidance program on preventing adolescent substance use in communities, towns, and cities worldwide.
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Planet Youth's model is not a program; it’s a new approach to identifying and establishing long-term strategies that promote positive changes in the environment where young people grow up.
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Building a strong community around children is the healthiest and most cost-effective way to promote their well-being in the future.
Building this community takes time, effort, and the commitment of key partners. It involves focusing on four major domains of the environment surrounding young people: parents and family, school, peer group, and leisure time (or the local community).
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Peterborough has a long history of community collaboration for positive social change, and work is already underway to improve the well-being of youth!
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Our goal is to work together to improve the social environment for children and youth in the Peterborough community, with the aim of preventing or reducing substance use harms among youth.
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Planet Youth Guiding Principles
Society is the Patient
Applies a primary prevention approach that focuses on developing an organized system to enhance the social environment in communities over time. Youth outcomes are a direct reflection of the environments they live and grow in.
Meaningful Connection is a Treatment
Enhances the connection between children and their families, peers, schools, communities, and adults. Schools are embraced as the natural hub of neighbourhood efforts to support child and adolescent health, learning, and life success.
Sustained Attention as a Treatment
Engages and empowers community members to make practical designs using local, high-quality, accessible data and diagnostics.
Builds Capacity for Leadership and Problem-Solving
Integrate researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and community members into a unified team dedicated to solving complex, real-world problems.
Match the Scope of the Solution to the Scope of the Problem
Encourages authentic assessment of the problem and the solution. It’s important to remember this effort calls for realistic timeframes, a long-term commitment and funding.
Our Local Approach
Youth will complete surveys to help us better understand their local social environment. Based on the results, local partners will collaborate to create action plans. The actions will focus on addressing risk factors and enhancing protective factors in our community, more specifically in the four areas where youth spend most of their time (seen above).
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The change will not happen overnight, but through years of collaboration to collect data and implement interventions, we can build an environment that empowers youth to be their healthiest selves.
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We are partnering with leaders in education, health care, local governments, and police services, as well as various volunteer organizations, to achieve our collective goal of enhancing the quality of life and communities by preventing drug and substance abuse and misuse. Our Community Coordinating Team includes leaders and policymakers from these sectors in our communities.
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Our recommendations for action will be based on clear evidence gathered through in-depth and regular student surveys and by reviewing proven policies and best practices from other jurisdictions.
