By: Stefanie Williams, Preventionist

For three consecutive weeks Prevention is Key Hosted our partner Agency Mental Health Association for a 3 Part Series entitled “Your Health Your Relationships”. This series was targeted for teens in Morris County grades 9-12. Each week guest agencies presented a new topic to educate our youth participants on how to understand and have healthy relationships with others. As an added bonus during the presentations the youth had the opportunity to meet new people their age from different areas, indulge in dinner and snacks, interact in workshop style activities and conversations, and had the chance to enter in for an amazon gift card each week.

The first week’s topic was “Your Mental Health- It’s Real!”. This presentation was given by the Mental Health Association as part of the NJ4S grant. The presenters engaged with the youth in a relaxed and casual style presentation with open dialogue and discussion.  The conversation consisted of topics related to mental health, signs of deteriorating mental health, how to talk to someone about their mental health, resources, and the importance of self-care. Week two was presented by Samantha Dooley of Atlantic Health. She presented on the topic of “Healthy Relationships”. The group discussed red flags, self-respect, boundaries, how to communicate efficiently, self-care, etc. Finally in the final week Kaleidoscope an LGBTQ+ department of Center for Family and Services presented on “A Rainbow of Relationships” where they discussed a variety of LGBTQ terms and differentiation of flags, pronoun/ identification, acceptance, self-development, and challenges that a LQBTQ+ person may face.

This three-week series was made available for youth in the area to participate in an opportunity where learning, expression, and fun could be had in safe and comfortable space. The teens were not required to attend all three sessions however, the group that did attend came to all three sessions and made a lasting impact on the presenters as much as the presenters hoped to have made on them.