Can we create spaces to move forward?
We all want to feel like we belong and for young people peer influence can be intense. This month’s cover story shows how supported accommodation – such as hostels and shared housing – can multiply risks, but also provide many opportunities. The challenge is where and how to intervene, and that’s not about trying to dismantle peer networks (unrealistic!) but about reshaping the places in which they operate – something we do have influence over. Can we create spaces where young people are not just supported to cope, but to move forward?
It’s all about catching the moment, and quality of interaction is never more important than when entering treatment – at whatever age. This issue we begin our ‘Clearer Conversations’ series and with your help we’ll look at experiences of entering services: Were there choices? Were they explained? Was it a positive, listening – and ongoing – therapeutic relationship?Â
What can we do better? We’re setting the scene and want your input to examine how we can have better, warmer, and more productive interactions around treatment. We hope to build a resource to learn from, so please get in touch!
Read the May issue as an online magazine (you can also download it as a PDF from the online magazine)
Please send your letters and comment to claire@cjwellings.com
Claire Brown, editor