Richmond, we’re gonna make you BLUSH!
Sure, talking about sexual health can be awkward, but it can also be exciting, empowering and exceptionally fun.
To get around this awkwardness, a revitalized VCH program is now available to all Richmond high schools. BLUSH — Bold Learning for Understanding Sexual Health – is VCH’s peer-to-peer sexual health education program that has served Vancouver youth well for more than 20 years. BLUSH is now available to Richmond youth, too.
BLUSH aims to work with youth during the developmental window of age 12 to 18 to provide opportunities for youth to explore attitudes, values, and behaviours that support sexual health and well-being for lifelong impact.
“I want to promote personal health, safety, positive attitudes and responsibility, while being a positive influence to the younger generation,” says Jonathan, one of BLUSH’s youth educators who facilitates sessions across Vancouver and Richmond. “I hope to help youth not only gain more insight what sexual health is, but also to foster a better understanding of each other’s feelings by building a respectful and inclusive community, thereby influencing healthier decisions to be made.”
Talking freely
Vancouver Coastal Health’s youth prevention services stream has delivered sexual health and relationship education through a program formerly known as Condomania. The program’s new name, BLUSH, removes any preconceived notions about workshop content that aligns with BC’s Prescribed Learning Outcomes.
BLUSH’s youth educators engage on topics they know are important to youth, such as relationships, consent, safer sex options, confidence around open communication, gender and identity, factors that influence decision making, and personal boundaries.
Sex wasn’t really talked about in my household, and there was a lot of misinformation in my peer groups,” says Megan, another of BLUSH’s youth educators. “So if I can help give honest and accurate advice/information to youth in a way that makes them feel a little less alone and confused, I want to do that.”
BLUSH workshops
BLUSH discussions remain sensitive to varying comfort zones, diverse cultural backgrounds, and different levels of understanding. Here’s what’s on offer:
Healthy Relationships – We explore what makes relationships healthy or unhealthy, how to use open communication and how to make decisions that are best for you. This session is recommended for Grade 8s.
Safer Sexy – We explore issues and situations that make it difficult to negotiate safer sex, discuss the risks associated with sexual activities and help students develop their communication skills. This session is recommended for Grade 9s.
Gender StereoTYPOS – We examine the concept of gender and how gender stereotypes can influence our ability to take care of ourselves within relationships. We’ll also discuss how stereotypes affect our self-esteem, and our decision-making. This session is recommended for Grade 10s.
Healthy Sexuality and Media Literacy – Our newest workshop explores the impact of sexualized media and supports youths ability to develop skills to engage more critically in order to minimize the influence and realize opportunities for safer choices. This is recommended for Grade 11s.
Spread the word about BLUSH
Do you know a group of youths who’d be interested in a BLUSH session? Let them know that all BLUSH workshops can be booked directly from the program’s new website – blush.vch.ca
BLUSH’s youth educators are also profiled on the site. Click on this link to meet them, and learn about what makes them BLUSH.