The United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention and The Weston Alliance for Youth (WAY) will host a “Teen Talk” Town Hall Meeting featuring an interactive student-led panel focusing on how mental health and substance abuse impact the decisions youth in South Florida are making.
The panel will focus on data from the 2021 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, FYSAS, which reported that most South Florida youths’ choices entail healthy decisions. However, 44% of Florida students indicated their emotional health (stress, anxiety and depression) was worse during the COVID pandemic; 25% reported it was better and 31% said it was about the same. Students reporting negative impacts because of the pandemic also reported higher rates of substance use.
Parents and teens are encouraged to attend and participate in the free event, which is open to the public from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Cypress Bay High School, 18600 Vista Park Blvd. in Weston. Resources, refreshments and community service hours will be available.
To register, please visit: https://www.unitedwaybroward.org/events/town-hall-meeting or email lfigari@unitedwaybroward.org for more information.
