Health Talk

Health Initiatives for Youth Hamilton exists to provide you, as a youth (14-24 years old) with the health information and services you need to make the important decisions you face that affect your life. You will get your help from people with expertise in relationships, sexual & reproductive health, addictions, body image, self esteem, partner violence, sexual orientation, grief and youth medicine. You can get the information on an individual or group basis. We aren't here to judge you and our services are confidential.

Clinical Services

Our clinic is open Tuesday to Friday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Most services are available on a walk in basis.

Medical Concerns
  1. New symptoms
  2. Obesity and Nutrition
  3. Mental Health
  4. PAP Smears
  5. Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections
Pregnancy
  1. Testing
  2. Options Counselling
  3. Early pre-natal care

Birth Control/Contraception

  1. Information/Counselling
  2. Low cost birth control pills, patch, ring and injections
  3. Emergency contraception advice and sales

Counselling

Resources

  1. Including free condoms and water-based lubricant

All medical services are free, confidential and provided by a team of nurses and physicians who have training in adolescent medicine.

Health Promotion & Life Supports

Call or drop by Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Workshops and discussion groups are offered on various topics including:

  1. Diversity & Oppression
  2. Risk Reduction
  3. Relationships & Dating
  4. Sexual Harassment & Assault
  5. Substance Use & Sexuality
  6. Healthy Decision Making
  7. Conflict Resolution
  8. Body Image & Eating Disorders
  9. Sexually Transmitted Infections
  10. Stress & Coping
  11. Birth Control & Contraception
  12. Self esteem

Rainbow Safety Net

Rainbow Youth Group

Community Adolescent Risk Reduction and Education Program

*Me First*

Leadership & Asset Skill Development

Peer Mentor Program

For more information, please call our Community Service Department at: 905-528-3009 ext. 32.

Educational Seminars offered:

Relationships and Dating

  1. Abuse in relationships
  2. Gender roles
  3. Choices and Decision making
  4. Sex and Intimacy

Sexually Transmitted Infections

  1. What are they?
  2. How do we become infected?
  3. Breakdown of Bacterial and Viral Infections
  4. How do we protect ourselves?
  5. Healthy Decision making

Birth Control

  1. What are the various forms of birth control available?
  2. What qualities do you want in a birth control device?
  3. Effectiveness of birth control methods
  4. Where do you get them?
  5. Who can you talk to?

Safer Sex

  1. What is Sex?
  2. How can we protect ourselves?
  3. Abstinence
  4. Risk behaviour
  5. Knowing about your body and your partner’s body
  6. Communication with your partner

Mental Health

  1. What is Mental Health?
  2. What is Mental Illness?
  3. Who can we turn to when we need help?
  4. What are some coping mechanisms we can use to help ourselves?
  5. What is self-awareness?  How can it help us make the decisions that are right for us?

Sexual Assault

  1. What is Sexual Assault?
  2. What is consent?
  3. What are the laws?
  4. When is someone unable to give consent?
  5. What is date rape?
  6. How does sexual assault affect someone’s life?
  7. What are the common myths surrounding the issue of sexual assault?

Body Image and Gender Image

  1. Defining Gender and its impact
  2. Socialization
  3. Stereotype reinforcement
  4. Society and Media
  5. Body Image and Eating Disorders

Racism and Discrimination

  1. Defining Racism/Discrimination/Prejudice
  2. Why are people racist?
  3. What role does media play?
  4. What is Culture?  How does it affect our socialization?
  5. Solutions

Sexual Harassment

  1. Defining Sexual Harassment
  2. What is the impact?
  3. Policies and Legislation
  4. Solutions

Self-Esteem

  1. What are our Basic Needs?
  2. Define High Self-Esteem vs. Low Self-Esteem
  3. What influences our self-esteem?
  4. How does our Self-Esteem impact our lives?
  5. What tools can we use to build our self-esteem?

Puberty

  1. Female Reproductive System
  2. Male Reproductive System
  3. Physical and Emotional Changes
  4. Health and Well-Being

Stress Management

  1. Defining Stress – positive and negative
  2. Recognizing stress and how it impacts our lives
  3. Stress and the Body
  4. What does stress cost you?
  5. Coping Skills

Anger Management

  1. What is anger?
  2. What are your triggers?
  3. How does anger affect the decisions that we make?
  4. How does anger impact our relationships?
  5. What coping mechanisms can we use to deal with our anger?

Conflict Resolution

  1. Defining Conflict
  2. How can conflict be positive?
  3. Communication skills
  4. How do you deal with conflict?
  5. Consequences of conflict

Healthy Sexuality

  1. When is someone ready for sex?
  2. How should we choose a partner?
  3. Defining Healthy Relationships
  4. Hygiene and maintaining a healthy body

Substance Use and Sexual Activity

  1. The effects of drugs on your mind and body
  2. Date Rape Drugs
  3. Risk Behaviour
  4. Decision making
  5. Where to go for help

Finding the Appropriate Health Care for you

  1. What is your comfort zone?
  2. Access issues and needs
  3. Prioritizing your health
  4. Where to go?

Community Adolescent Risk Reduction Education and Prevention Program

  1. Risk Reduction
  2. Peer Mentor Program
  3. Leadership Skills Development

Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm  •  Clinic Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 2pm - 5pm
151 York Boulevard, Lower Level, Hamilton Ontario  L8R 3M2  •  Phone: 905.528.3009  •  Fax: 905.528.4702  •  Email: