Meriden Health Talk

National Prevention Week with Rushford/MHYC

Listen Later

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we have special guest, Victoria George from Rushford in Meriden in honor of National Prevention Week.

Hi everyone, I am Victoria George, Prevention Professional and Licensed Professional Counselor for Rushford, Meriden; and co-leader of the Meriden Healthy Youth Coalition. 

What is National Prevention Week?

May 10 through 16 is National Prevention Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, substance misuse prevention, and the importance of building healthier, safer communities. 

Why Prevention Matters

Prevention is about creating environments where people can thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. It means helping individuals develop healthy coping skills, strong support systems, and access to resources before a crisis happens.

Prevention can look like:

  • Teaching young people about healthy decision-making
  • Supporting mental wellness in schools and workplaces
  • Encouraging open conversations about substance misuse
  • Promoting stress management and self-care
  • Building stronger family and community connections

    • The goal is not perfection. The goal is support, education, and early action.

    Here in Meriden, the Meriden Healthy Youth Coalition is working hard to achieve those same goals – youth and community education and empowerment, through supportive early intervention. 

    The MHYC is a community coalition created to work collaboratively to reduce and prevent alcohol, other substance use and their related problems through raising awareness while promoting healthy lifestyles. 

    To give you a sense of what this mission looks like in action, I’d like to share some examples of our initiatives. 

    • For prom season this year, the MHYC partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to spotlight prom safety, and educate Maloney High School juniors and seniors on the issue of underage alcohol use and misuse.
    • The MHYC also conducted a series of four wellness workshops, held after school at Maloney High, focused on student wellness and support, self-care and mind-body health.
    • In April, the MHYC participated in Platt High School’s Learner Engagement & Attendance Team event, in effort to better engage students and families who struggle with consistent attendance.
    • Also in April, alongside Meriden Department of Health and Human Services the MHYC participated in the Statewide Save a Life Naloxone Training Day, as well as National DEA Drug Takeback Day, in partnership with the Meriden Police Department.
    • Earlier this month we attended the Daffodil festival in Hubbard Park, and though it was cold and a bit rainy, we had a really great time meeting and speaking with numerous Meriden families and community members, on the topics of substance use prevention and mental health.
    • We are looking forward to tabling at the Meriden Pride health fair this Saturday May 16 and Maloney High School’s Mental Health Day on May 22.

      • There is a lot happening right now in the field of prevention, and the Meriden Healthy Youth Coalition is excited to be a part of growing and advancing prevention efforts within the Meriden community. 

      Remember, prevention works when we do it together. Together, we are creating a stronger Meriden– empowering youth, engaging adults, and building a healthy, safe, drug-free community. 

      Let’s keep the momentum going through May 16, through the entirety of NPW 2026, and all year long. 

      Thank you for listening, and for more information, visit samhsa.gov/prevention-week. 

       

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      Meriden Health TalkBy meridenhealthtalk