Teens & Sexual Health

When it comes to a teen’s sexual health, it is not just about their physical well-being. It is also about their emotions and social life. It is important that they can feel comfortable making decisions about sex and sexuality. It is also important for teens to understand how to build and maintain healthy relationships.

As teens grow up, their thoughts, feelings, and relationships with others change. They start to understand who they are becoming as young adults. That includes their gender identity and sexual orientation.

Teens benefit from having a trusted person to talk to about sex and sexuality. This can be a parent, teacher, health-care provider, or another trusted adult. They can provide teens with accurate sexual health information, as well as knowledge and advice that teens need to become healthy, responsible, and confident adults.

Check out the following resources:

• Healthy Relationships (coming soon)
• Consent (coming soon)
• Sexual Exploitation
• Birth Control/Contraception
• Sexually Transmitted Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs)
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression

Services related to this information:

• Contact your Public Health Nurse:
  • Eastern Urban/Rural Zones
  • Central Zone
  • Western Zone
  • Labrador-Grenfell Zone
• Contact Planned Parenthood — NL Sexual Health Centre at 1-877 NO MYTHS (666-9847) or 709-579-1009
• 2SLGBTQIA+ Warm Line – Planned Parenthood NL call/text 1-866-230-8041
• 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555
  • 811 is free and confidential. 811 is available 24/7 and can provide support with mental health and addictions issues and more.
  • Services formerly offered by the Provincial Mental Health Crisis Line are now offered by 811. Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse who is also a trained crisis intervener.
• Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY)– (709) 754-0536 ext. 203
• Bridge the Gapp
  Newfoundland and Labrador’s ‘go-to’ website for mental health information. Bridge the gapp offers self-help resources, links to local services, and invites people to share their personal stories. Bridge the gapp is free of cost and available to every resident in the province. The site is divided into adult and youth sections, however many services are appropriate for both.
• Kids Help Phone – e-mental health services 24/7 across Canada call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868

Eastern-Urban:

• Contact the Sexual Health Clinic at sexualhealthclinic@easternhealth.ca.
• Contact the community walk-in clinic (Mundy Pond) at 709-777-1706.