Becoming an askable adult: A guide to talking about sexual health

Talking about sexual health is already a tricky topic for most people, let alone trying to talk about it with children or teens. 

Stigma, shame, a lack of information, and discomfort can all play a role in creating barriers to conversations about both sex and reproductive health. 

You’re in luck this spring, as UBC’s Workplace Wellbeing team has some answers and resources to share. So, if you’re a parent, guardian, or want to become an askable adult for the kids in your life, read on. 

Sign up for a workshop 

Did you know? There is an upcoming workshop on this topic: Talking to your kids about sex: Tips for parents, guardians and askable adults  

Register for our upcoming two-part workshop on June 20 and 27, and gain valuable insights and tools to tackle this sensitive topic with more confidence. 

Enrol today

Learn and share key resources 

Did you know? Over the past year, BC has introduced free contraception. This will help people make decisions based on their own needs, rather than financial barriers. (Options for Sexual Health) 

There is a lot of information out there, so let us curate a helpful list of resources to help you feel better prepared for ‘the talk’. 

• Books and websites for preschool to teens and parents (Saleema Noon Educators) 
• Askable Parent Challenge (Amaze.org) 
• Indigenous Sexual Wellbeing Model (First Nations Health Authority) 
• A Guide to Sexuality and Disability (Teachingsexualhealth.ca) 
• Videos, books, courses and community for LGBTQ+ families (Queer Kid Stuff).  

Consider other ways role model  

Did you know? Almost 80% of Canadians agree with prioritizing the promotion and protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights (Action Canada).   

There are many ways to role model the importance of sexual and reproductive health and education. Here is a list to get you started:

• Choose a sexual health organization and learn about how you can support them. 
• Share your favourite sexual health resources with family and friends. 
• Write a letter to your Health or Education ministers asking them to support access to sexual health services and information. 

• Ask your local government officials to formally recognize Sexual Health Week. 

Read past newsletter articles on the topic 

Did you know? Our team tries to provide information on this topic annually as part of the Healthy UBC Newsletter. 

• In Bloom: a sexual and reproductive health refresher (May 2023) 
• Fostering a Pleasure-Positive World through Holistic Sexual Health and Wellbeing (May 2023) 
• Sexual and Reproductive Health (May 2021)