EDUCATORS, parents, and community organisations are being urged to take a more proactive approach to helping young people navigate increasingly complex social pressures amid growing concern about exposure to adult influences and risky behaviour at earlier ages.

The issue was highlighted during a parent engagement session hosted by Camperdown High School’s Parents’ Association, where discussions focused on challenges ranging from peer pressure and online influences to gambling, alcohol exposure, and other behavioural risks affecting students.

For many educators, these concerns are becoming increasingly difficult to separate from the realities of student life.

Head of the Guidance Department at Camperdown High School, Kayla Davis, said schools are seeing more situations that require support beyond traditional classroom instruction and discipline.

“This parenting session came out of the need for parents to be properly equipped with the tools for parenting and for dealing with several issues that are arising with the school population,” Davis said.

Parents and guardians participate in discussions surrounding under-age drinking, substance abuse, gambling and online safety among students during a parent engagement session hosted by Camperdown High School’s Parents’ Association.

She noted that some students are being exposed to adult environments and behaviour earlier than previous generations, making parental guidance and intervention increasingly important.

“I recall an instance during a picnic when a student brought alcohol, and for him, it was completely normal. He was not able to see why it was inappropriate to take alcohol to the picnic,” Davis said.

The session was facilitated by RISE Life Management Services, which has been working with schools, families, and community groups to strengthen youth resilience, promote healthy decision-making, and provide practical tools to help young people navigate social pressures.

Project officer at RISE Life Management Services Shamar Wedderburn said many of the challenges affecting young people today stem from exposure to influences they are often not yet equipped to process or manage.

“Young people are being exposed to a wide range of influences every day, whether through their peers, social media, entertainment, or their immediate environment. That makes it increasingly important that parents and trusted adults create opportunities for open conversations and guidance before problems emerge,” Wedderburn said.

Inspector Florene Clarke of CISOCA speaks with parents about online safety, child protection and cyber-related risks affecting students.

As part of the engagement, RISE shared educational resources designed to help parents start age-appropriate conversations around peer pressure, boundaries, positive decision-making, and personal responsibility.

Participants were also introduced to Colouring Your Choices, an educational resource created as part of Red Stripe’s Drink & Live Responsibly programme.

Communications manager at Red Stripe Daika Mitchell said the company’s support for the initiative reflects the importance of creating partnerships that help young people build the skills and confidence needed to make informed choices.

“Many of the challenges affecting young people today are interconnected. Whether it is peer pressure, online influences, exposure to adult environments, or other risky behaviours, early guidance and positive decision-making skills remain some of the strongest protective factors.

“That is why partnerships between schools, parents, and community organisations are so important. No single institution can address these challenges alone. By working together, we can help equip young people with the confidence, judgement, and support they need to make informed choices and navigate the pressures they face every day,” said Mitchell.

Head of the Guidance Department at Camperdown High School Kayla Davis addressing parents and guardians about behavioural concerns among students.

Parent Kelisha Binns said the discussion also encouraged reflection on the role families play in shaping children’s attitudes and behaviour.

“In my opinion, a lot of these behaviours start at the home level because children are naturally curious and influenced by what they see around them,” Binns said.

“We have to become more intentional about the examples we set and the conversations we have with our children,” added Binns.

Participants also heard presentations from the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) on online safety, child protection, and emerging cyber-related risks affecting young people.

The session concluded with calls for stronger collaboration between schools, families, and community organisations, with participants agreeing that helping young people navigate today’s increasingly complex social environment will require earlier intervention, consistent guidance, and a shared commitment to their well-being and development.