The Real Talk program works to bring down barriers to youth crime and create an open and emotionally frank space for young men to talk. (Shutterstock)

By Spencer Sterritt

reaching out

New Nanaimo program helping curb high youth crime rates

Nov 22, 2019 | 8:41 AM

NANAIMO — A special 12-week program is helping volatile Nanaimo youth open up, better themselves and comprehend the damaging consequences of their violent actions.

The Real Talk program is run through the school district’s Learning Alternatives initiative, which helps youth who don’t excel in the traditional classroom. The current group is halfway through the program.

Facilitator Kirsten Bjermeland told NanaimoNewsNOW a core group of six teenaged men gather weekly, discuss how their week went and have emotionally frank conversations about their lives, violence in the street, self-esteem and managing feelings of frustration.

“We create a space for young men to increase their emotional literacy (and) have conversations they might not have otherwise.” _{Kirsten Bjermeland}

Sessions are designed to be as open as possible with no filters, to encourage honesty from a group of young men who aren’t used to opening up and being vulnerable.

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After the first half of the 12-week program, Bjermeland said “almost all of them will now share how their week is going. We’ve created an emotionally safe environment for them to talk about stuff they’re actually facing every day. I was surprised at how willing to be vulnerable these young men were.”

Sessions of the Real Talk program fluctuate between the core group of six up to 12 young men, depending on the week.

Co-facilitator Jason Flett said the youth have a high self-awareness about themselves and what they’re going through, but not necessarily about the consequences of their actions.

“The skills we hope to leave them with is when they have a situation they’re reacting to, hopefully they pause and think how it’s going to impact them, their family and the person their interacting with. I think we’re really getting through to them.”

The Real Talk program is happening at a difficult time for Nanaimo youth.

The recent Vital Signs report showed the number of youth per 100,000 charged with a violent crime in Nanaimo far exceeds other similarly sized communities and grew dramatically in the the last five years.

The total number of youth charged with crimes throughout Nanaimo is declining by several hundred each year.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit